James Wood Blasts Home Run, Joins Bryce Harper in Washington Nationals' Record Books

Washington Nationals star James Wood continued to mash on Tuesday, crushing a 114 MPH home run against the Cleveland Guardians to break a Statcast Era franchise record.

Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood (29) doubles against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Nationals Park. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

James Wood was surrounded by hype before he ever reached the big leagues, and he has been doing the most to live up to those lofty expectations so far.

The Washington Nationals outfielder continued to show flashes of star potential Tuesday afternoon against the Cleveland Guardians, stepping into the batter's box with one out and one on in the bottom of the third. Up in the count 2-1, Wood turned on a low-and-inside cutter from Luis L. Ortiz and sent it screaming over the wall in right, gifting his team an early 3-2 lead.

The ball only traveled 374 feet, but with an exit velocity of 114.6 miles per hour, it was a missile of historic proportions.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, Wood is the first Nationals player with multiple home runs of at least 114 miles per hour in a single season since the Statcast Era began in 2015. His two career homers of that speed are now tied with Bryce Harper for the most by any Nationals player in that span, as Harper hit one in 2017 and one in 2018.

JAMES WOOD

He’s the first Nationals player with multiple 114+ mph HR in a season under Statcast (2015)

Only other Nats player with 2 such HR total in span: Bryce Harper (1 each in 2017+2018) https://t.co/3jxN50UVFf

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 6, 2025

Wood had nine home runs and a 1.1 WAR across 79 games as a rookie in 2024. He is already up to 10 homers and a 1.2 WAR in 2025, despite appearing in just 37 contests so far.

The 22-year-old slugger, who was one of the several top prospects the Nationals got back from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Juan Soto, is now batting .271 with a .928 OPS on the season. Through 500 career plate appearances, Wood is up to 19 home runs, 22 doubles, 64 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

Wood's go-ahead homer on Tuesday set the stage for the Nationals to win 10-9 in a wild back-and-forth affair. The Guardians got their revenge and won 9-1 in game two of the doubleheader, though.

Washington and Cleveland will close out their series at 12:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

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