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James Wood ties Nationals record set by Bryce Harper, Juan Soto
Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood. Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

James Wood ties Nationals record set by Bryce Harper, Juan Soto

Bryce Harper's debut with the Washington Nationals came with an enormous amount of fanfare and exceptionally high expectations. The former first overall pick in the 2010 draft had carried those high expectations ever since he first appeared on the radar of scouts in high school. 

Harper didn't disappoint. He hit .270/.340/.477 (118 OPS+) in his first full season in the majors, at 19 years of age, and wound up winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award. 

Juan Soto's debut came six years later. Soto had been an international amateur free-agent find nearly three years earlier and didn't quite carry the same notoriety that Harper did upon his arrival. Still, it was a big moment when the 19-year-old debuted in left field. 

Soto also didn't disappoint. He batted .292/.406/.517 (142 OPS+) in that first full season. Soto finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr. 

Harper and Soto each hit 22 home runs during those first seasons with the Nationals. Neither appeared in a full 162 games. Harper got into 139. Soto played in 116. 

Harper and Soto each got off to quick starts in their sophomore seasons. Through their first 162 career games, they each smashed 31 home runs. The mark remains an organizational record (even including the history of the Montreal Expos). 

James Wood matched that record on Monday. Washington's 22-year-old left fielder hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres that ricocheted off the right field foul pole. It was Wood's 31st home run in 158 career games.

James Wood's three-run home run (22) James Wood drills a three-run home run off the right-field foul pole, increasing the Nationals' lead to 9-3 in the top of the 8th inning

MLB Home Runs (@mlbhomeruns.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T04:14:25.561350Z

He'll have a few chances to surpass Harper and Soto. The Nationals are in San Diego for two more games before heading to Los Angeles to play the Angels.

Most HR through first 162 career games in Nationals/Expos franchise history: T-1. James Wood, 31 (through 158 games) T-1. Bryce Harper, 31 T-1. Juan Soto, 31

MLB (Bot) (@mlbbot.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T04:42:35.000Z

Wood's debut with Washington was a key moment in the current team's future. The former second-round pick in the 2021 draft had been one of the key pieces the Nationals received when they traded Soto to San Diego in 2022 (for Wood, shortstop CJ Abrams, outfielder Robert Hassell III, left-hander MacKenzie Gore and right-hander Jarlin Susana). 

He got into 79 games with the Nats last season, hitting .264/.354/.427 (123 OPS+) with nine homers. In 79 games this year, he's stepped things up to a .284/.379/.569 (167 OPS+) line with 22 home runs. 

Harper spent seven seasons in Washington, hitting 184 home runs. Soto was a National for five seasons, hitting 119 of his own. They rank sixth and eighth, respectively, on the club's all-time home run list. Longtime third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's 284 stands alone at the top of the club's rankings. Wood's start suggests he might one day find himself in this mix. 

Aaron Somers

Aaron Somers has more than a decade of experience writing about sports and has been published in numerous outlets, but baseball is and has always been his biggest passion. You can follow him on BlueSky, @AaronJSomers.

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