WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals prime prospect James Wooden made his main league debut Monday night time in a 9-7 loss to the New York Mets.
“It is unreal,” mentioned Wooden, a local of close by Olney, Maryland, earlier than the sport. “Simply with the ability to play for the group I grew up round and watching, it is a blessing.”
The Nationals chosen the contract of the 21-year-old outfielder to name him up from Triple-A Rochester. Wooden was acquired within the August 2022 commerce that despatched Juan Soto to San Diego. He performed left discipline and batted sixth in his first main league contest.
“Distinctive,” Wooden mentioned when requested for one phrase to explain his debut. “It is similar to the primary time doing one thing, one thing you have by no means finished earlier than, taking part in in entrance of a crowd like that and clearly within the main leagues.”
After receiving a standing ovation from the gang of 26,719 within the backside of the second, Wooden fell behind 1-2, labored the depend full after which lined an opposite-field single into left-center towards Mets starter David Peterson. It was his solely hit of the night time in 4 at-bats.
“I used to be simply type of on the lookout for a fastball,” Wooden mentioned. “His fastball runs, it is acquired a run and sink on it. I used to be making an attempt to push it up and away, particularly after I swung by the one down. After which I used to be simply in a position to get one.”
He’s the third-ranked prospect within the Main League Baseball pipeline. The 6-foot-7, 234-pounder was hitting .353 with 10 residence runs, 37 RBIs and an OPS of 1.058 within the minors.
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“He is finished very well at Triple-A,” Nationals supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. “I talked to him a bit of bit at present about his routine, stick together with his routine and actually simply be the place your toes are and have enjoyable.”
Wooden estimated he’d have “greater than 50” family and friends members in attendance for his debut.
“It is cool simply being again residence and having my household right here and making an attempt to soak all of it in,” he mentioned. “On the finish of the day it is nonetheless baseball, so simply making an attempt to take a look at it that means.”
The Nationals acquired him in August 2022 within the deal for Soto that additionally introduced shortstop CJ Abrams and left-handed starter MacKenzie Gore to Washington.
Abrams and Gore have been mainstays on a rebuilding membership that has remained aggressive a 12 months after ending final within the NL East at 71-91. Washington (39-44) entered Monday 4 video games out of an NL wild-card spot.
In a corresponding roster transfer, the group designated outfielder Eddie Rosario for project.
The Related Press contributed to this report.