James Wood: 4 Intentional Walks and Enters MLB History

James Wood Enters MLB History with Intentional Walks

In a day that will be etched in the memory of fans, the young outfielder for the Washington Nationals, James Wood, starred in an unprecedented milestone by receiving four intentional walks in a single game. The match, which culminated in the Nationals’ 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in 11 innings, marked a before and after in Wood’s promising career. With only 22 years old and 163 games played in the Major Leagues, Wood joins a select group of players who have been intentionally walked four times in the same game. The last to achieve this feat was the legend Barry Bonds, in the year 2004.

“That’s really cool. If they mention you alongside Bonds, that’s already special,” Wood commented after the meeting.

James Wood

Since intentional walks began to be officially recorded in 1955, only six players have achieved this figure in the same game: Barry Bonds, Manny Ramírez, Andre Dawson, Garry Templeton, Roger Maris and now James Wood, who is also the first to achieve it in the history of the Nationals/Expos franchise.

A batter who commands respect

Wood’s outstanding performance is no coincidence. In his first full season, the young outfielder has established himself as one of the most feared hitters in MLB. His numbers back him up: an offensive line of .283/.386/.552, with 22 home runs that place him among the leaders in the Major Leagues and an OPS of .938, the fifth best in all of baseball.

“It sucks because I like to see him bat, but it’s crazy that they’re already taking those measures against him. He has carried our offense and is special when he stands at the plate,” said his teammate Jacob Young.

Jacob Young

Despite the Nationals being in modest positions in terms of overall offense, Wood’s impact has been enough to generate constant fear in rivals.

A Rising Star

What happened on Sunday could be an indication of what is to come. As the season progresses and his performance continues, more teams are likely to choose to avoid facing him directly. Wood has demonstrated maturity, consistency, and power in every at-bat, earning the respect of pitchers and managers throughout the league. The young gardener is already in the conversation for the 2025 All-Star Game, and with performances like this, his place among the big names in baseball seems increasingly assured.