Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood confirmed on 3 July that he will compete in the 2025 T-Mobile MLB Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta. The 22-year-old became the third player to enter the eight-man event, joining hometown star Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. Wood is in his first full major-league season and leads the Nationals with 22 home runs, 91 hits and 65 RBIs over 86 games. Batting first in Monday night’s opening round, Wood launched 16 homers, highlighted by a 486-foot drive that sailed out of the stadium. The left-hander’s prodigious blast was the longest recorded shot of the round and underscored the power that has made him one of the league’s breakout hitters this year. The Home Run Derby will continue later in the evening ahead of Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.