The 2025 Home Run Derby has its third participant, with Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood announcing his intent to compete in the event at Truist Park.
In the midst of his second season in the Majors, Wood is participating in the Home Run Derby for the first time in his career.
He is becoming the third player in Nationals franchise history to compete in the Derby, joining Bryce Harper (2013, 2018) and Juan Soto (2021-2022).
Wood is looking to become the third Nationals’ player to win the Home Run Derby, following Harper’s victory in 2018 and Soto’s in 2022. With a win, the Nationals would be the fifth team to have three different players win the Derby, joining the Los Angeles Angles, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs.
At just 22 years old, Wood would be the youngest player to ever win the Home Run Derby, beating out 23-year-old winners Ruben Sierra (1989), Juan González (1993) and Soto (2022).
Currently ranking fifth in the National League with 22 home runs on the season, Wood should prove to be a strong participant in the event. Although, he will face some stiff competition in the form of Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who currently leads the Majors with 33 home runs.
Wood is having an excellent season for the Nationals in 2025, batting .294/.395/.563 and ranking among the top 10 in wRC+. He would be the favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year if not for the 79 games he played with the Nationals in 2024 giving him enough service time to now be considered a second-year player.
Home Run Derby 2025 participants
Raleigh and Ronald Acuña Jr. are the only other players who have officially committed to participating in the Home Run Derby.
Representing the hosting Atlanta Braves, Acuña Jr. is participating in his third Home Run Derby and is looking to become the fourth player to win at his home ballpark.
The field will continue to fill out in the coming weeks, but Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and defending champion Teoscar Hernández both confirmed they will not be participating. Hernández is choosing to prioritize his health and availability for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second half of the season.
Shohei Ohtani has also strongly implied he won’t participate in this year’s Home Run Derby.
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