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Nationals James Wood spoils Braves star prospect’s first ever MLB pitch with big home run
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- Nationals James Wood spoils Braves star prospect’s first ever MLB pitch with big home run
Nationals James Wood spoils Braves star prospect's first ever MLB pitch with big home run appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Some moments in baseball write themselves. Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood delivered one of those moments on Thursday, crushing a home run off the very first pitch JR Ritchie ever threw in the major leagues. The Braves' highly touted pitching prospect had waited his entire life for his MLB debut, and Wood wasted absolutely no time making it a difficult one to forget.
The moment hurt Ritchie. Every pitcher dreams of stepping onto a big league mound for the first time, and the first pitch of their career is supposed to boost their confidence. Instead, Wood sent that first pitch sailing over the fence, hitting the young prospect hard in the gut before he could even get used to being in the big leagues.
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As brutal as the moment was for Ritchie, it was nothing short of electric for Wood and the Nationals. The blast marked Wood's third consecutive game going yard, and more importantly, it made him the first National League hitter to reach 10 home runs on the season. That's a remarkable milestone this early in the year and a statement that Wood is no longer just a promising young talent, he's one of the most dangerous bats in the entire NL.
One of the most interesting things to happen in baseball so far in 2026 is Wood's rise to fame. Scouts were very excited about the young outfielder when he was coming up through the Nationals' system because he had a lot of raw power and was good at staying calm at the plate. Now, he's turning that potential into real, undeniable work on the biggest stage.
Wood's hot streak is just what the Nationals need right now as they slowly rebuild their team. James Wood is making his case to be Washington's next great star, one swing at a time. He has hit a home run in three straight games, bringing his total to 10 on the season.
Related: Mets' Juan Soto isn't sharing the 'secrets' he learned from 2019 Nationals World Series run
