The Next Young Star in Major League Baseball: James Wood
This article is all about James Wood's promising season as a 22-year-old. I analyze his performance measures, batted ball data, and projections!
James Wood’s Age-22 Season: A Solid Foundation
James Wood displayed significant upside during his age-22 season, laying the groundwork for a promising career. His diverse skill set is reflected in these standout numbers:
Games Played: 79
Home Runs: 9
Runs: 43
RBIs: 41
Stolen Bases: 14
Walk Rate (BB%): 11.6%
Strikeout Rate (K%): 28.9%
Slash Line: .264/.354/.427
wOBA: .342
xwOBA: .351
wRC+: 120
fWAR: 1.2
Wood’s strong walk rate and ability to contribute across power, speed, and run production categories make him a dynamic and versatile player. While his overall numbers were solid, they hint at an even higher ceiling if he can make key adjustments.
Elite Batted Ball Metrics: A Glimpse Into A Promising Career
Wood’s batted ball metrics reveal his immense potential and place him among the game’s elite hitters!
These metrics underscore Wood’s raw power and ability to generate consistent, high-quality contact. His ability to square up the ball is one of his greatest strengths, but his ground-ball tendencies limited his production of extra-base hits.
Average Exit Velocity (EV): 92.8 mph (95th percentile)
Barrel Rate: 10.6% (79th percentile)
Hard-Hit Rate: 52.0% (94th percentile)
Ideal Contact Rate (ICR): 47.0% (97th percentile)
IPA%: 27.7% (70th percentile)
A better view of his plate approach and swing tendencies
The Ground-Ball Problem: An Area for Improvement
Wood’s high ground-ball rate was a major problem despite his impressive batted-ball data.
Ground-Ball Rate (GB%): 72.7% (1st half), improved to 52.1% (2nd half)
Fly-Ball Rate (FB%): 15.2% (1st half), improved to 23.6% (2nd half)
In the first half of the season, Wood’s FB% ranked in the bottom 2% of MLB, drastically limiting his slugging potential. His low pull rate (35.9%) further reduced opportunities to turn hard contact into flyball power. However, his significant improvements in the second half indicate a trend toward unlocking his full potential.
July-Sept/Oct improvements:
LD%: 19.7% - 23.9%
GB%: 63.9% - 53.5%
FB%: 16.4% - 22.5%
Pull%: 29.5% - 38.0%
Oppo%: 23.0% - 35.2%
Image Credits: fangraphs.com
A Well-Rounded Spray Chart
Wood’s ability to spray the ball across the field is another quality of his hitting prowess.
Pull Rate: 35.9%
Center Rate: 33.8%
Opposite Field Rate: 30.3%
This balanced distribution reflects his ability to handle pitches in all parts of the strike zone and adjust to various pitching styles. His second-half improvements, such as an increase in pull rate (29.5% to 38.0%) and opposite-field% (23.0% to 35.2%), demonstrate greater confidence and adaptability at the plate.
Advanced Metrics Point to Breakout Potential
Digging deeper into advanced metrics reveals Wood’s strong foundation for future success:
BACON (Batting Average on Contact): .394 (96th percentile)
Expected AVG (xAVG): .255 (70th percentile)
Expected wOBA (xwOBA): .339 (75th percentile)
Expected BABIP (xBABIP): .343 (99th percentile)
Expected wOBA on Contact (xwoBACON): .434 (88th percentile)
These figures suggest that Wood's results could significantly improve with a more optimized batted ball profile. His ability to generate strong outcomes on contact sets the stage for a potential breakout season.
Image Credit: baseballsavant.mlb.com
Plate Discipline and Bat Speed: A Complete Package
Two critical elements of Wood’s game stand out:
Bat Speed: 73.9 mph (70th percentile)
Chase Rate: 21.0% (90th percentile)
Wood’s elite bat speed, combined with his disciplined approach at the plate, makes him a tough matchup for any pitcher. He excels at punishing fastballs (96.9 mph EV on flyballs, 99th percentile) and staying back on breaking balls, showcasing a well-rounded offensive skill set.
A Better View of his per-pitch data
Image Credit: baseballsavant.mlb.com
2025 Projections and Outlook
FanGraphs projections for Wood’s 2025 season provide a glimpse of what he might achieve:
Games Played: 141
Home Runs: 21
Runs: 76
RBIs: 77
Stolen Bases: 18
Slash Line: .261/.347/.446
wOBA: .344
wRC+: 122
fWAR: 2.9
This projection could be very conservative, considering the potential impact of further refining his batted ball profile. If Wood continues to build on his second-half improvements, he could surpass these numbers and emerge as one of baseball’s brightest young stars.
My Closing Thoughts
James Wood’s combination of elite raw power, advanced plate discipline, and a well-rounded hitting approach makes him a standout player with immense potential. His second-half improvements in 2024 highlight a great potential to elevate his game further, especially as he works on optimizing his batted ball profile. With slight adjustments, he could solidify his place as one of Major League Baseball’s next great stars. The journey ahead promises excitement, and all eyes will be on Wood as he strives to reach new heights in 2025.
Thank you for reading!
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