Nationals’ MLBbros Continue To Be Orioles’ Kryptonite In Battle of Beltways: CJ Abrams & James Wood Are A Problem

Nationals’ MLBbros Continue To Be Orioles’ Kryptonite In Battle of Beltways: CJ Abrams & James Wood Are A Problem

by | Aug 15, 2024 | THE LEAD OFF

BALTIMORE — Sitting just outside of the visitor’s locker room, Nationals rising rookie James Wood carved up some crabs for his Tuesday dinner — the completion of a two-course meal that started with the Baltimore Orioles.

 

Wood wasn’t the only bro bomber that sliced and diced the orange birds on Tuesday. All-Star shortstop C.J. Abrams and Wood combined for 7-for-8 from the plate in a 9-3 rout over the Orioles.

 

 

Although they went a combined 0-for-7 in a 4-1 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday, both Bros put the league on notice with their performance this season against one of the best teams in baseball.

 

The performance of the duo was the second time a Nationals MLBbro got the best of Baltimore in 2024, as on May 7, third baseman Trey Lipscomb sent Corbin Burnes to the showers with an RBI-single in a 3-0 win over the squad.

 

In the aforementioned May contest, Abrams struck out three times and Wood was still in the minor leagues, but that didn’t stop either from showing out at Camden Yards.

 

Tuesday’s Bro Show started out with a double from Abrams. While a big play, Wood seemed to one-up his teammate almost immediately as he brought in Abrams and advanced Juan Yepez on an RBI single.

 

“We always talk about how smart he is,” Washington manager Davey Martinez said when asked about Wood, “Tonight’s an implication of what he really can be.” 

 

The game continued what has been a tear for Wood, who in the 15 games prior, batted .358 with 12 RBIs and four stolen bases.

 

Abrams’s fortune hasn’t been the same, as in the month before the contest he had a .169 batting average and struck out 17 times. But, Abrams said he’s tried to be “more relaxed” at the plate and it worked out.

 

“It’s always good to get three hits, take it into the next game.” Abrams said. “Keep it positive.” 

Get Used To Seeing CJ Abrama and James Wood Do Damage 

 

Throughout the game, Wood and Abrams traded hits, while Wood crossed home plate three times and Abrams scored just one less time.  As Abrams typically found himself on base when Wood came knocking, Abrams said he was trying to “get out” on the basepath for Wood, and it worked out more times than not.

 

“He’s doing his thing,” Abrams said. “We knew he’d be pretty good.” 

 

With four hits, Wood became the seventh Nationals rookie to record multiple four-hit performances, and the Maryland native did it in the ballpark he grew up attending.

 

 

With the Nationals sitting at fourth in the NL East, these games might not mean much for the standings, but it was Washington’s second win over the 71-50 Orioles, granting it a respectable 2-2 split in the Beltway Battle.

 

 

Washington Nationals Top Prospect James Wood Promoted To Double-A Harrisburg | The Top 10 MLB Prospect Is Blazing His Trail To The Show

Washington Nationals Top Prospect James Wood Promoted To Double-A Harrisburg | The Top 10 MLB Prospect Is Blazing His Trail To The Show

by | Jun 1, 2023 | 5TH SLOT

Washington Nationals top-ranked prospect James Wood is a towering presence standing 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds.

 

The 2021 second-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres, who was acquired in the blockbuster Juan Soto trade last summer, has all the tools to be one of the prominent faces of a young, rising Nationals franchise in the very near future. In fact, he may have that opportunity much sooner than anticipated as on Sunday the slugging lefty was promoted from Single-A Wilmington to Double-A Harrisburg.

 

James Wood Almost Ready For The Show

 

 

 

The 20-year-old Woods has more than proven his ability to handle the game at the minor league level. He has a Big League approach with his batting prowess and ability to draw walks. In 42 games with Wilmington, Woods batted .293 with eight homers and 36 RBI. He also tallied nine doubles, five triples, eight stolen bases, a .392 on-base percentage and a .972 OPS.

 

Nationals Manager Excited About James Wood

 

The power that Wood possesses definitely has the attention of Nationals manager Dave Martinez, who told reporters this after the team announced the promotion of the No.7 overall prospect in MLB Pipeline.

 

 

“When he hits the ball, he hits it hard,”Martinez said. “And he’s walking, so that’s a good sign. They felt this was like the time to move him up, and he definitely deserved a shot to go up to Double-A.”

 

 

Of the five prospects the Nationals received in exchange for superstar Juan Soto last summer, Wood is by far the best, and his ascension only proves it even more.

 

 

 

The Nationals have a strong history of promoting prospects in mid-to-late June or early July, but in this instance, they decided not to wait until then to make the call on Wood, who will likely be their future cleanup hitter. The move also suggests that Wood, whose expected major league arrival is currently 2025, may get a call-up to the big leagues as soon as 2024.

 

 

Martinez And Nationals Are Big On Prospect Development

 

Wood’s promotion is a prime example of what the Nationals are focused on just 3.5 seasons removed from winning the franchise’s first and only World Series championship.

 

Only pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin remain from the 2019 World Series team, so in essence the team is in a completely rebuilt. And that’s just fine with Martinez, who takes pride in seeing players develop.

 

“For me, it’s all about development for our young players,” Martinez said. “He’s still really young, he’s learning a lot. I’d like to see him play all three outfield positions, because you never know what the need will be here when he gets here. Hopefully he goes down there and plays all three. But he’s going to be a good one. He’s learning a lot, and he’s getting better.”

 

Wood will excel at every level, his skill set just exudes the various elements it takes to be successful. Of course, Woods will encounter growing pains along the way, but the Nationals have themselves a real Bro Bomber who is just one of a crop of MLBbros that have been taking over our nation’s capital.