James Wood home run robbery: Nationals star denies Juan Soto as Washington gets last laugh in 2022 trade

James Wood home run robbery: Nationals star denies Juan Soto as Washington gets last laugh in 2022 trade originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . After years of lurking near the cellar of the NL East and MLB at large, the Nationals find themselves on the brink of relevance, just a handful of games from .

500. Their hulking slugger, James Wood, is one of the primary reasons why. The Olney, Maryland, native has been a force at the plate, spraying pitches around the outfield grass — or into the night sky.

Wood's Baseball Savant page is draped in red. He's on pace to eclipse 50 homers for the first time in his career. And even if he falls off his torrid pace, Wood still figures to rank as one of the sport's most feared batters by the time the season is through.

During Washington's 5-4 win over the Mets on Thursday, Wood showcased another side of his game — one that has proven far less menacing since he made his debut in 2023: his defense. Unfortunately for New York, Wood's heroics came at the expense of an old friend-turned-foe, Juan Soto. Here's what you need to know.