Hometown kids Wood and Lipscomb settling into majors together

NEW YORK – James Wood and Trey Lipscomb each took long roads to only end up in their own backyards. The two Nationals prospects both grew up within an hour of D.C. and now they’re teammates for the first time at the major league level.

“This is kinda how it felt all throughout the minors,” Wood said. “We just are doing the same stuff that we do normally, but it's just up here, which is always fun. It's cool.”

Wood and Lipscomb both entered the Nats farm system in 2022, but by different means. Lipscomb, a Frederick, Md., native, was drafted by the Nats in the third round out of the University of Tennessee. Two weeks later, Wood, an Olney, Md., native, was included in the biggest trade in baseball history when he and four other top prospects were shipped to the Nats in exchange for Juan Soto.

The two quickly became teammates at Single-A Fredericksburg and have risen through the system together ever since, making stops at High-Wilmington, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester before finally making the major leagues together this past week.

“I don't think really much of it has changed to be honest,” Lipscomb said. “I feel like we came up (together). When I first got drafted and he got traded over by the Padres, we were in Low-A Fredericksburg together. We've been working our way all the way up since then. Obviously, last year started at High-A together. And then Double-A. Then obviously, spring training and Triple-A. But it's kind of just been the same. I feel like we've just been the same and just continuing to grow, us being teammates. Not only that, but our friendship together.”

Lipscomb was the first to taste the big leagues. Although both had strong enough camps to make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, the Nats decided to start both of them at Rochester. Then Nick Senzel injured his thumb during batting practice before the season’s first game and the Nats needed a third baseman, which brought Lipscomb up before playing a game at Triple-A.

The infielder went back and forth between Rochester and Washington a couple of times while Wood stayed in the minors tearing up International League pitching. The 6-foot-7 outfielder, now the top prospect in baseball, was close to the majors in June, but a hamstring injury sidelined him for four weeks out of extreme caution.

When he returned, he needed about a week to get back into rhythm and finally get the call to Washington. Five days after Wood made his major league debut, Lipscomb was recalled to join him on the Nats roster, ironically replacing Senzel, who was designated for assignment.

Almost a week into their collective big league careers, the two have leaned on each other’s friendship while settling into the majors.

“It's cool. I think we learned a lot from each other,” Wood said. “And getting to know each other, it just makes it easier, especially when I was coming up and he got back here. Just feeling more comfortable in the locker room and around all the guys and all of that.”

“I feel like it's given me the opportunity to just slow down,” Lipscomb said. “Honestly, just being around him, I mean, you guys see it, he’s kind of just a mellow tone no matter the situation. So I feel like that's kind of played a big part in my development throughout the minor leagues.”

They could soon have some company joining them, too. Wood and Lipscomb were a part of a large contingent of top prospects to spend significant time in major league spring training, along with Dylan Crews, Brady House and Robert Hassell III.

With Crews and House knocking on the door of the major leagues at Triple-A now, Wood and Lipscomb can’t help but envision what it will be like when they join them in the clubhouse.

“I'm definitely looking forward to when they get up here,” Wood said. “I try to follow a lot of the Rochester games. Yeah, I'm just looking forward to it.”

“We're building something special together,” Lipscomb said. “Those guys back in Triple-A, they've grinded their way up through the system and got to Triple-A. Like you said, they're knocking on the door. They're ready to get here. They're eager to get here.

“You guys saw it at spring training. I feel like that's just the vibe that we have. And the guys here in the locker room, they built a culture that everybody wants to be a part of. We just continue to grow together, build that camaraderie. Because I think when you get a group of guys who want to come to the field every day and just be with each other, I think that's when you get that close-knit group. And I think that's what wins ballgames. Not only just having the talent, but also just playing together. When you play as one, play as a family, I feel like you will accomplish a lot more than if you play for yourself.”

For now, Wood and Lipscomb will continue to build that camaraderie with their current major league teammates. They’re even continuing it off the field as the two will spend their All-Star breaks looking for an apartment to share in the D.C. area.

“Just being able to do that and then also just taking baseball for what it is and then having our fun off the field,” Lipscomb said. “If it's, 'Hey, do you want to run to the grocery store to go get some food?' or, 'Do you want to play some video games?’ I feel like it's just a good way to have somebody in your circle that you can talk to without having to mention baseball.”