Could dominant Wood remain in leadoff spot after Abrams returns?

James Wood’s reaction the first time he found out he’d be leading off for the Nationals?

“Uh, I don’t know,” he admitted. “But whatever the manager thinks gives us the best chance to win, I’m OK with.”

Wood has been more than OK batting first. He’s been downright unstoppable.

With another big night Wednesday in the Nats’ 4-3 win over the Orioles, the 22-year-old left fielder further established his credentials as a big bat who can provide instant offense for his team.

Wood opened the bottom of the first with a towering, 431-foot blast to the second deck in right-center field at Nationals Park. The exit velocity on that home run: 116.3 mph, making it the hardest-hit homer by a Nats player in this ballpark since such things began getting tracked in 2015.

It was a rare home run pulled by Wood, who has hit the vast majority of his big blasts to left-center field.

“I love the fact that he can stay in the middle of the field and then do that,” manager Davey Martinez said. “Home runs he hits to left field are impressive. But when he hit that ball today, I was like: ‘Oh boy, wow, it’s pretty awesome.’”

Can Wood tell the difference in feel between a 116 mph moonshot and a simple 100 mph hit?

“Yeah,” he said with a smile. “I can’t really explain it. It just feels good, to be able to get a barrel.”

Wood now has eight homers on the season, tied with Corbin Carroll, Tommy Edman and Fernando Tatis Jr. for the National League lead. With a week still remaining in the month, he has a chance to catch Ryan Zimmerman for the club’s all-time record for home runs by the end of April (11, set in 2017).

Four of those eight homers have come while batting atop the Nationals' order, two of those in the first inning. It’s an unconventional spot for a 6-foot-7 slugger, but with CJ Abrams on the 10-day injured list with a hip flexor strain, Martinez has turned to his best power hitter to provide a spark, much as he used to do with Kyle Schwarber.

It may have felt awkward at first, but Wood has come around to embrace the job and actually says he’s now plenty comfortable with it.

“I think at first I wasn’t sure at the idea of right away you’re hitting,” he said. “But I just think you kind of get used to it. I don’t mind it at all.”

Wood has delivered to the tune of a 1.208 OPS in his seven games as leadoff man. It makes you wonder: Would Martinez consider keeping him there, even when Abrams returns from the IL (perhaps as soon as tonight or Friday)?

“I might think about it for a second,” the manager said. “But if CJ can get on for James, it would be pretty nice. CJ, rightfully so, he deserves to get back here and get in the leadoff spot. When he gets going, which he will, those two guys at the top of the order will be pretty good.”