James Wood
OF 6-6 230 IMG Academy
11-9-20 - Ian Smith Mock 1.0
11. Washington Nationals
The Pick- OF James Wood • IMG Academy (FL )
6’7” • 230lb
This pick could come as a surprise to some but James Wood is currently the most complete prep outfielder in the 2021 class. He gives you a hulking 6-foot-7 frame with high level athleticism and a frame that seems as though it will age well. Above average actions in the field with plus arm strength but his value is truly coming from his bat that has stood out among his peers this summer. Massive raw power as you’d expect, but it comes out a very compact left-handed swing that shows a natural feel for the barrel. Impressive approach for his size, and could eventually be a 60 hit, 70 power type of player if everything clicks. In a Nationals system that’s starving for high upside bats, Wood brings you so much to dream on.
15) James Wood, OF, IMG Academy (FL)
Wood is one of the biggest risers of this year’s prep class, simply because it feels like he has put the barrel on literally every pitch thrown to him this summer. The first thing that jumps out about Wood is the body. He is every bit of 6’6, and the physical transformation that he has undergone since last summer is noticeable. He looks lean and absolutely ripped, and it still looks like he could put some more muscle on his projectable frame. Wood’s impressive strength plays in a big way at the plate. He has legit 70-grade raw power potential, and he has present in-game power, as well. He generates phenomenal bat speed and rotation with a loose, athletic swing with the ability to lift the ball because of his natural upward swing plane. Wood’s in-game power has emerged in a big way this summer on the showcase circuit, where he has been hitting a ton of long home runs. What has really impressed me about Wood is even with his crazy power, he has shown the ability to hit the ball hard no matter where it is pitched. He has shown flashes of unbelievable bat control, swatting balls way out of the zone over the fence. His offensive potential is truly special, and he could be a guy that hits 30 homers a year. Defensively Wood may end up at first base. He has a 60-grade arm in the outfield, but he doesn’t have great first-step quickness that would allow him to get great jumps on the ball. Wood runs well once underway, but as he fills out his body more he will slow down. While the defense is a big question about his future outlook, his prodigious offensive potential makes him one of my favorite hitters in this year’s class. Wood is committed to Mississippi State.
James Wood – OF: Not often you see a player 6’6 230lbs with Plus (60) Speed, Plus-Plus (70) Raw Power with a chance to tap into all of it, Defensively, showing an ability to play CF, however likely sliding in as a Plus defender in RF as he reaches Pro ball. The offensive ceiling is as high as any in the class when you have that strong hitability in such a powerful Left Handed hitter. Shows strong mechanics and the ability to stay short with those long arms. Not something you see often from a young hitter this size. You can’t help but think of a Left-Handed Aaron Judge here.
James Wood, OF, IMG Academy
Wood has emerged as one of the top prep prospects in the country on the back of a mammoth 2020 summer, during which he showcased his monster tools and growing hitting ability. A projectable 6’6”, Wood moves like a smaller man, making it unsurprising that he has a strong basketball background. As you might expect, his raw power is among the best in the class, rating in plus-plus territory. With that said, Wood isn’t a pure slugger and is has handled the highest level of prep pitching with aplomb. Wood’s swing is bigger than average, but that’s more a product of his long levers than anything. His cut is almost effortless, with a quick trigger, and many evaluators are optimistic about his chances to hit for average and power.
In addition to the tantalizing offensive upside, Wood gets strong reviews in center field. His arm strength is every bit as big as you’d expect, and he’s shockingly fast for his size with a 6.7 second 60 yard dash time. All in all, the profile shares quite a bit with 2020 top-10 selection Riley Greene’s, with Wood trading a bit of hit for a bit of power.
The range of outcomes here is wide, but those at the right tail are simply too big to ignore, and should keep Wood’s stock in the top-20 selections at a minimum, if not the top-10.
James Wood: Wood entered the All American Classic as one of the top power bats in the 2021 prep class. The IMG product has a very simple and easy swing, allowing for his 6’6’’ frame to utilize the easy power he gets without being as feast or famine of a power bat. At 230lbs, many believe that he will end up shifting over to his secondary position, first base in order to put on some more weight and further bolster the power numbers. This has been accentuated by the fact that Wood’s lower half on his throws from the outfield is not outstanding, and he has a lot of work to do on his transition and release. On the flip side, Wood gets very good jumps in the outfield, and moves very well for someone of his size- he could easily project into a corner outfield spot.
At the All American Classic, Wood participated in the home run derby, reaching the final rounds on Classic day. During the game itself, Wood had a pretty forgettable day, striking out on three pitches to Ryan Ginther after working a walk in his first at bat against Christian Little. Wood projects out very well due to the clean, crisp swing and ability to move in the field.
James Wood sounds very impressive
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