While still adjusting, Wood continues to improve in left field

James Wood is an imposing force on a baseball field. The sport’s top prospect stands at 6-foot-7 and 237 pounds in the batter’s box with the ability to hit both righties and lefties to all fields and flex his natural power to hit the ball hard and far.

That much we know for sure over his first 27 major league games. What we haven’t really been able to get a good grasp on is how well he can play the outfield, specifically left field, where he’s lined up in every one of his games with the Nationals since his debut on July 1.

Although he played all three outfield spots while coming up in the minor leagues, he hasn't looked entirely comfortable out in left over the first month of his major league career. He entered last night’s opener against the Brewers with a 0.4 Offensive Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball Reference, but with a minus-0.4 Defensive WAR. He also had minus-3 Defensive Runs Saved, a minus-2.5 Ultimate Zone Rating and minus-4 Outs Above Average in left field, per FanGraphs.

He has shown flashes, for sure, using his large frame and unique athleticism to run down fly balls and throw darts back to the infield. But the lanky 21-year-old hasn’t always been as smooth as some expected. At least not in the way he seems to glide around the bases effortlessly.

“I've just been working with (outfield coordinator Gerardo) Parra a lot. He's been helping me a lot out there,” Wood said. “But yeah, just trying to go more aggressive to the ball and just being ready to make a play every pitch.”

Wood’s aggressiveness in left continues to grow as he gets more comfortable out there. He showed it twice during last night’s 8-3 loss to the Brewers.

In the second inning with a runner on first, Rhys Hoskins hit a ball over Wood’s head off the wall in left field. Wood and shortstop CJ Abrams had a good relay to the plate, but Keibert Ruiz's tag was just a tad too late to prevent the run from scoring. Sometimes you can turn the play perfectly and it’s still not enough.

“I'm just trying to get the ball to the cutoff as fast as possible,” Wood said. “I mean, it helps when you have CJ there and he's able to make a good throw. But maybe if you're just a little bit quicker, then you get the play done.”

But Wood had a chance to make up for it in the next inning. Hoskins stepped to the plate with two runners in scoring position and one out. Only this time, Wood was able to get under his fly ball for the out. And instead of hitting Abrams as the cutoff man with the runner at third tagging up, he threw a strike to Ruiz at home in time for the out and an inning-ending double play.

“He got behind the ball and threw a strike to home,” manager Davey Martinez said. “He's moving a lot better out there. His first step has been a lot better. He's understanding to try to get behind the ball. But he's doing way better out there.

“He wasn't used to playing left field. So he's kind of learning every day. He's out there working hard every day. The biggest thing is to make sure that his first step and he's ready to catch the baseball. I tell him all the time, 'Hey, you gotta be ready. You gotta tell yourself "That ball is coming to me" and know what you want to do with it when you get it.'”

Before this season, Wood has spent the least amount of time in left field compared to the other two outfield spots. But the Nationals have intentionally kept him in left, forecasting that’s where he'll develop into an everyday player for them. Unlike they did with Juan Soto, who started in left early in his career before shifting to right, and despite Lane Thomas’ departure at the trade deadline, creating an opening in right, the Nats insist Wood is going to stick in left field. Even with the expected upcoming promotion of Dylan Crews, who might shift to right field while Jacob Young continues to play Gold Glove-caliber defense in center.

“I want him in left field. I think he's gonna play better in left field. He really is,” Martinez said. “I know he's played right, I know he's played some center. We got some other guys coming up that might play some right field later on. But I think he's well suited to play left field.”

If that’s the case, then Wood and Abrams should team up for a lot of relays in the future, with a chemistry in that play already building.

“Good range. He's got a range, a fast guy and his arm's pretty good,” Abrams said last night. “We saw it tonight. Thought we had him at home with the relay, but it's all good. He's doing a great job out there.”

So far, Wood has lived up to the immense hype surrounding him. That doesn’t mean he’s been perfect in every aspect of his game. Nor does it mean he isn’t trying to improve any way he can.

“I'm just trying to get better every day,” he said. “That's really all I'm trying to do. I mean, I know I'm not perfect out there. So I'm just trying to continue to grow every day.”