Far be it from me, but I don't think we are getting the updates we should on James Woods .
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We just got back from this which was fun (and it worked out so both girls could come):
https://www.mlb.com/news/jacks...ood-visit-petco-park
So far the adjustment is going well. He's very mature about the baseball part and still an 18 year old with everything else. Examples: 1. He asked us to buy him a pan for their residential hotel room (dude, you have your own money...go to Home Goods and drop $19 on a pan); 2. he met Blake Snell this weekend and talked to him for 20 minutes...75% of which was about whatever video game they both play; and 3. He "forgot" to tell us his hand x-rays came back clean for almost a day...but he did tell his sister who also didn't think it was worth mentioning. 
He's missed 5 games after taking two 95 mph fastballs (the one to the hand is the one that had him out). He came back for one game on Monday and aggravated it throwing someone out trying to leg a single into a double so he didn't play on Tuesday. So far, after 21 games, his BA is .318 with an OBPS of .825. He's playing all his innings at center which he loves. He wants to cut down on strike outs and increase multi-base hits but otherwise he's doing well. They have two more weeks and then they have a week off before fall instructs start.
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Sweet! Holy God Paula, He is bigger than ken now.
And I do understand the 18 deal. Oblivious doesn't begin to describe it.
He should be buying u pans.
@Good Knight also made no attempt to grab the bill at dinner. LOL
Kenny, at 6'5", is definitely the little Dad now. James's base seems to be getting stronger too (I posted a link with pix below). I'm really interested to see what/how they work on him in instructs. He's also stolen 8 bases so it is going to be interesting to see if they work on strength to increase power or balance it with speed.
The rookie league is over and James is headed home for a few days before fall instructs. His final weekend: Turned 19. Hit another HR, grabbed a few more RBIs and got his OPS to 1.000. Not bad!
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Impressive stuff.
@PTWood posted:The rookie league is over and James is headed home for a few days before fall instructs. His final weekend is summarized . Turned 19. Hit another HR, grabbed a few more RBIs and got his OPS to 1.000. Not bad!
Nice, congrats. My guy is 1 day older, but a soph in college ;-).
This is a fantastic thread! It is so nice to see good things happening to good people!
@nycdad posted:Nice, congrats. My guy is 1 day older, but a soph in college ;-).
My guy is also 1 day older and a soph in college...... small world. Sept 16th is the most common birthday in the US.
* oh and James numbers are sick
@Gunner Mack Jr. posted:My guy is also 1 day older and a soph in college...... small world. Sept 16th is the most common birthday in the US.
* oh and James numbers are sick
Is it? I know this changes, but for a while me and my ex-wife had the most and least common bdays.
Makes sense. He shares a birthday with my Mom. 😂
@Gunner Mack Jr. and @nycdad it’s crazy how each state has different age cut offs. For Maryland you have to be 5 by Sept 1 so the kid missed it by 16 days. We thought about petitioning him to start early but sitting still was not a thing in Sept of 2007! 😂
On September 26, I'll be ... older. On September 27, my brother will ... be older. One year and one day apart. My parents were consistent. LOL
Lots of holiday conceptions here.
More conceiving holidays in the near future are certainly conceivable.
@smokeminside posted:More conceiving holidays in the near future are certainly conceivable.
For some reason I am re-living this great movie in my head.
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If he is home for a week, I hope you stocked the fridge. He is getting huge and still fast. Nice combo!
This just happened. Nice finish to the season. He got home yesterday. Went hitting with Dad today. Already destroyed his room. Also, love you guys but I have no desire to discuss conception in any way shape or form with you.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prosp...lb-pipeline-coverage
Here's the final Prospect Team of the Week
7:41 PM GMT+2
OF: James Wood, ACL Padres (Rookie)
(Padres No. 5)
.550/.625/.950, 5 G, 20 AB, 8 R, 11 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB, 4 SO, 2 SB
Wood started the week by going 5-for-8 with a homer on Monday and two doubles and five RBIs on Tuesday and ended the week with a 3-for-3 day and another home run. While his pro debut has been brief, the Padres’ second-rounder from the 2021 Draft has handled it very well, with a .372/.465/.535 line across 86 at-bats to go along with 22 RBIs and going a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts in 26 games.
Wow! Just wow.
Thought I’d send a MiLB update. I just got back from picking the baby up at the airport. He was out in AZ for the first round of winter conditioning which was, in his words, surprisingly really good. They lifted/conditioned from 8-10 or 11 and then did baseball workouts (hitting, fielding,etc.). He said all of the international guys went home (except the Cubans who can’t go home) so it was Primarily US players as opposed to his Arizona League experience where at least half his teammates were native Spanish speakers. There were about 30 of them from all levels of the Padres minor league organization at the work outs. There will most likely be another round in January. Over the three weeks out there, he put on 10 pounds, shaved off a body fat percentage and plans to get the percentage even lower now that he’s home with access to a full kitchen and can eat better. Not off to a good start as he ate all the leftovers in the fridge plus a smoothie when we got to the house from the airport (at 12:30am).
He asked to go to Dicks tomorrow to buy a football. His arm is one of his plus tools but they want him to throw a football to work on his release.
In talking to his friends with the Cubs, Angles and Mariners, each team does the winter very differently so his experience is not necessarily the standard as there is no standard.
Great to read this!
Football throwing seems to be the hot new training tool. Last spring the guys at Cressey were always outside throwing one.
Thanks for the update. Enjoy the holidays!
Tom House has encouraged throwing a football for decades. I was at the Padres spring training facility in the 80’s. House was the franchise, roving pitching instructor at the time. With all the footballs flying around I thought I was at a QB camp.
Tom House is a polarizing name in baseball, but I've got nothing but good things to say about him and his TPA organization. His stance and lectures on nutrition, arm care and rotational kinetics resinated with my son as a HS junior (probably because I wasn't involved) and I believe created a solid foundation for his current training methodologies.
@JucoDad posted:Tom House is a polarizing name in baseball, but I've got nothing but good things to say about him and his TPA organization. His stance and lectures on nutrition, arm care and rotational kinetics resinated with my son as a HS junior (probably because I wasn't involved) and I believe created a solid foundation for his current training methodologies.
Im glad that House was able to help your son. However, Im not a fan of his and he isnt held in high esteem in pitching circles in Texas. Personally, i think some of the things he promotes make sense and some don’t. But he is infamous for taking other peoples ideas and claiming them as his own and im never okay with that.
@adbono posted:Im glad that House was able to help your son. However, Im not a fan of his and he isnt held in high esteem in pitching circles in Texas. Personally, i think some of the things he promotes make sense and some don’t. But he is infamous for taking other peoples ideas and claiming them as his own and im never okay with that.
Hello Adbono, I’m not a coach or trainer, I’m a relatively informed parent who loves the game and is continuing to learn with a kid that is blessed to still be navigating the process.
In looking at your profile, I’m a Texas parent as well and given the length of your involvement in coaching kids we’ve likely met, or at least seen each other across the diamond (me being in the bleachers or behind my camera).
My son had a plus arm from the beginning, but as he got near 12U I felt that he was falling back toward the middle of his peer group in arm strength. I wasn’t worried, kids mature differently – young hard throwers don’t always end up as hard throwers post adolescence. At the end of his HS freshman season he started complaining about some minor discomfort in his forearm after throwing, he said more an annoyance than a big concern. However, like every other parent in this group I did the research and ultimately found someone to look at his mechanics. The coach was a former MLB pitcher and who also turned out to be a proponent of the Tom House methodologies – NPA (Had no clue about any of that at the time).
This coach found some issues with Trev’s mechanics and kinetic chain, they adjusted and his velo picked up and any hint of discomfort was gone. That's all it took for my kid to buy in. He went to several House seminars (whenever he was in Houston), he never had another soft drink, cut most refined sugars out of his diet and started eating stuff I couldn’t bribe him to eat in the past. As a parent, I didn’t care where the motivation was coming from, I just loved the ownership.
He continued to work with this pitching coach through juco (never working on pitches, just kinetics and arm health) and the result of genetics, work and coaching culminated in a fb touching 97 and a scholarship at Arkansas. So, nothing but love for Tom House and his concepts coming from my experience.
This year Trev touched triple digits a few times and he now uses advanced kinetic baseline modeling to capture what’s right, so he can systemically adjust in the future, if required (not related to House or NPA). The processes and technologies move forward…
@JucoDad posted:Hello Adbono, I’m not a coach or trainer, I’m a relatively informed parent who loves the game and is continuing to learn with a kid that is blessed to still be navigating the process.
In looking at your profile, I’m a Texas parent as well and given the length of your involvement in coaching kids we’ve likely met, or at least seen each other across the diamond (me being in the bleachers or behind my camera).
My son had a plus arm from the beginning, but as he got near 12U I felt that he was falling back toward the middle of his peer group in arm strength. I wasn’t worried, kids mature differently – young hard throwers don’t always end up as hard throwers post adolescence. At the end of his HS freshman season he started complaining about some minor discomfort in his forearm after throwing, he said more an annoyance than a big concern. However, like every other parent in this group I did the research and ultimately found someone to look at his mechanics. The coach was a former MLB pitcher and who also turned out to be a proponent of the Tom House methodologies – NPA (Had no clue about any of that at the time).
This coach found some issues with Trev’s mechanics and kinetic chain, they adjusted and his velo picked up and any hint of discomfort was gone. That's all it took for my kid to buy in. He went to several House seminars (whenever he was in Houston), he never had another soft drink, cut most refined sugars out of his diet and started eating stuff I couldn’t bribe him to eat in the past. As a parent, I didn’t care where the motivation was coming from, I just loved the ownership.
He continued to work with this pitching coach through juco (never working on pitches, just kinetics and arm health) and the result of genetics, work and coaching culminated in a fb touching 97 and a scholarship at Arkansas. So, nothing but love for Tom House and his concepts coming from my experience.
This year Trev touched triple digits a few times and he now uses advanced kinetic baseline modeling to capture what’s right, so he can systemically adjust in the future, if required (not related to House or NPA). The processes and technologies move forward…
I think it’s unlikely that we have crossed paths before - based on the age of your sons & mine and based on me being in DFW and you in Houston. More than likely we have bern to many of the same places but at different times. But you never know. Baseball is a small world. Very cool story about your son and I appreciate your posts about that - and also your positive statements about Juco baseball.
New updates. He actually picked up a tab at a restaurant which was both sweet and unexpected. Then he ruined it by dunking on me. Literally. We all went to Chicago to support his sisters team playing Oregon WBB. Game cancelled because of COVID (10 cases, two symptomatic. Luckily Syd is clean) so we went to the practice gym to shoot around. I was under the basket rebounding and the SOB dunked on me. 😂
The indoor baseball facilities are adjacent to the basketball practice courts. I thought you guys would appreciate this video:
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No dunk! Very disappointing.
@JCG the family knows better than that. Video would have meant the end of Christmas for all of them! Hahahaha
@PTWood they have a pretty nice facilities for baseball at NW. Son did a camp there pre-covid and its still his dream to play for them...Merry Christmas to you and your family!
@used2lurk good luck with NU! It has been a great experience for Syd although this year she’s been out with a back injury. Hope you guys had a Merry Christmas too.
1/18 James update. He was out in San Diego for a week hitting and lifting with 11 other prospects. Included one-on-one meeting with the GM where he was told the sample size was small but good start—keep getting stronger and faster. Left CA for AZ over the weekend for another 2 weeks of conditioning and then he comes home until spring training. They got to move into their new team-provided apartments and now he’s trying to figure out how to ship his bean bag. 🙄 The apartments are nice.
".....now he’s trying to figure out how to ship his bean bag. 🙄"
So much info in such a short phrase. A thoughtful analysis could take days.
Smoke...we figured it out. They are on sale. He will be the lucky owner of an east coast bean bag and a west coast bean bag (this thing is huge and heavy...but super comfortable to sit in to play video games). If all goes well, maybe he'll pay on more than one team this year and we will have the saga of bean bag moves (from spring training to low A and beyond)...
Looks comfy, but I would need a hoist to get back out of it.
@smokeminside posted:".....now he’s trying to figure out how to ship his bean bag. 🙄"
So much info in such a short phrase. A thoughtful analysis could take days.
Smoke with a nasty double entendre on the inside corner for a called third strike!
@PTWood posted:.....They got to move into their new team-provided apartments and now he’s trying to figure out how to ship his bean bag. 🙄 The apartments are nice.
I did not miss this point about the team provided apartments! How cool and convenient! Trying to find housing is tough, especially in Snow Bird, college spring break filled, Florida spring training. Kid is paying $4800 a month for a 2BR sharing with another couple. The Blue Jays are (supposedly) building their own hotel soon.
@PTWood posted:Smoke...we figured it out. They are on sale. He will be the lucky owner of an east coast bean bag and a west coast bean bag (this thing is huge and heavy...but super comfortable to sit in to play video games). If all goes well, maybe he'll pay on more than one team this year and we will have the saga of bean bag moves (from spring training to low A and beyond)...
All sorts of baseball terms could apply here. At this point, I recommend:
Bean Bag: The Double Play.
@keewart a game changer really. I’m so happy for the change.
And smoke and adbono I am trying very hard to ignore the two of you. 🙄😂
Here is the update from the minor league world of James Wood.
1. They found out that there will be 4 to a 2-bedroom apartment in Lake Elsinore (Low A where he will start his season), furnished with twin beds. He (6'7") and Jackson (6'3") are already trying to figure out if they can fit bigger beds in their rooms. Maybe no room for bean bags. Hahaha
2. Season starts April 8th and Kenny, the girls and I will be there for the first series (away) and part of the second series (home).
3. Kenny was out at Spring Training a couple of weeks ago and got some very positive and consistent feedback from coaches and execs about James's work ethic, performance, sense of humor and coachability (he's initially shy and quiet so if they are seeing that it's because he's comfortable so it's a good thing).
4. His day starts at 6:30am every day and during his downtime he's usually exhausted/sleeping
5. Cuts have started (and some guys have retired) which is so hard...no matter how or why it's the end of a dream...
6. We have to beg him for details. Like I'll say "How was your day." And he's say "Decent." and I'll say, "What does that mean?" And I won't get a response. Then three hours later I'll get a text from Kenny (I'm back in Moz right now) who talked to Jackson's Dad and the two of them went 7-10 and James almost hit for the cycle (missed the double). He's hit 4 HRs that we know of. One monster shot against the Dodgers last Monday and then he did this yesterday):
Great looking swing! He has been busy!
Agreed, great looking swing. I'd really like to hear what it sounds like when James squares up on a game ball with a wooden bat.
That swing!! I like the humble attitude
So quiet and effortless - gorgeous swing!
Hopefully the twins are the extra long variety? Trev spent 2 juco years on one with no other options- he’s 6’5”.
So glad they have to do housing now, will it be a host family when he gets settled? Trev did a full season of AA, $13K pre tax, safe housing near Trenton NJ took most of his after tax earnings…
@JucoDad In college, my husband and his roommate (Kenny was the shorty at 6'5"...Springer was 6'8"... they had a footer on the team as well) had the long beds and they still weren't long enough. So they bunked them and got two extra mattresses from the school for makeshift king beds. LOL
From what we know (see point 6. of my summary above) they will not be with host families but will stay in the apartments. It will make a huge difference not just in costs but in terms of flexibility if they get moved around from one team to another...
@PTWood On point 6 - Every kid is different, I’m just now hearing the juco stories from when Trev was that age - some are things I’m glad I didn’t know…
These days I don’t ask about baseball unless he’s starting a baseball conversation - which he does often. I just ask how he’s doing, in general terms, and let it flow from there. Baseball becomes their external identity, so I feel my role is to be sure I see all of him.
@JucoDad most definitely. I do not ask about baseball but it's pretty much his entire day at this point so when you ask how was your day it's either baseball....sleeping...walking to baseball...eating at baseball...or baseball. LOL
As for stories, we already heard one about him dropping a buddy off at the airport and driving his buddy's car back to the spring training complex 20 minutes away and across highways. NBD.
If you have a driver's license.
I'm sure this could be it's own incriminating and probably offensive thread.
....which I am not recommending starting by the way. We manage to be pretty incriminating and sometimes offensive without a separate topic.
Oh my, that is a swing. I've watched it over and over.
@TerribleBPthrower posted:Oh my, that is a swing. I've watched it over and over.
Me, too! About 12 times!!
Love reading about your son-thx for posting! I know he'll go far (farther!). Please keep us up-to-date!
Thanks for all your kind words guys. He actually got a few at bats in the major league game yesterday. Struck out his first at bat against Garrett Croset and walked his second at bat. He ended up being the game tying run because Campusano came in after him and hit a game-winning grand slam (9-8). LOL
Today back in the minors and hit HR #5. We only know because his agent is there. One of the kids he mentors pitched in his first HS game today and he was talking to me about that and not his HR. They wrap up soon and start heading to their assignments
Keep us updated. Garrett is not a bad one to strike out to. Was son’s teammate at UT his freshman year
Well Paula, the boys and I are hoping for FT Wayne so we can see him. But he is prob hoping for Elsinore.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but FT Wayne is high A and Lake Elsinore is low A. The way he's swinging he should be in FT Wayne sooner rather than later. Just checked the Lake Elsinore schedule hoping they'd be visiting the San Jose Giants when we're out there in May. No such luck. We miss them by two days. If this was last year, I'd be in SoCal and make a few games at Rancho Cucamonga and/or Lake Elsinore.
Yes u are correct. Hoping for Ft Wayne.
But it is still a hop from MO!
Paula;
Ft Wayne, IND is a great place to play and the Midwest League is #1 A League. 318' down the RF line.
The team name "Tincaps" was selected from the Disney Movie "Johnny Appleseed".
Best wishes.
Bob
That is a terrific swing. I can't wait to show it to my lefty hitting son tonight. We are in San Diego so we will try to get up and see him play this spring. Thanks for posting about his baseball journey.
Great to hear he’s off to a good start in camp.
Good luck!! Sweetness with that swing...
He will start in Low A in Lake Elsinore but is hoping to make it to Ft. Wayne this season at some point...
Paula;
a very interesting ballpark and history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Elsinore_Storm
Right center is "deep" 386'. It will be exciting.
Bob
@PTWood posted:He will start in Low A in Lake Elsinore but is hoping to make it to Ft. Wayne this season at some point...
Paula,
Best place for him to start as out of HS even though he has been in complex ball since last season. Too fast isn't in the best interest of the player. I read once the players out of HS has to have about 3k at bats, not sure if that still stands since players are more advanced.
Just enjoy every moment!
https://twitter.com/storm_base...ELH1dUrTf5V09EPq4J4Q
Lake Elsinore it is! We are going out there next week for the first home and away series.
Also, the boy finally texted unsolicited information. It wasn’t about a hit or a new friend or a play in the field or something he learned…it was to share that he’s in “MLB The Show.” I guess when you are 19 that’s a big deal. 😂 
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@PTWood as the father of a 19 year old, I can tell you that is a big deal!
Baseball is a very tough sport. Gotta celebrate every good thing that happens, big & small!
I remember how excited a friend was …
”I’m on a Strat (Strat-O-Matic baseball) card!” It was the precursor to video games.
I really liked hearing that he was talking about the kid he's mentoring. Shows good character, which will take him far in life! We often hear about selfish behavior, its gratifying to hear about the mentors and good role-models.
Keep us "in the loop" with your son's journey through this crazy sport!
Holy crud! The kid had a day!
It was a magical beginning to the season. :-) Thanks guys. And we were all there (big sisters too)!
That's a good looking swing.
https://twitter.com/Storm_Base...5XBj14KB_9wYKbYqg_CQ
Bravo, absolutely outstanding!
Wow! And for those who want to read about it:
https://www.baseballamerica.co...ornia-league-opener/
So glad you all could be there.
Wow! Sums it up. What’s the matter? He couldn’t hit three homers? 😀
Lol @RJM. Last at bat was a walk.
Go James!
Paula,
you know who was watching the game? Not only Scott B or C. Do you have friends in Ft Wayne?
Bob
Maybe he needs the SSKbat
Sent from my iPad
> On Apr 9, 2022, at 7:09 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@crowdstack.com> wrote:
>
>
Sent from my iPad
> On Apr 9, 2022, at 7:09 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@crowdstack.com> wrote:
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Notre Dame big sis has friends in Ft. Wayne.
Anyone have a copy of the article on James in The Athletic they'd be willing to share? I'd love to read it.
@IKETBD posted:Anyone have a copy of the article on James in The Athletic they'd be willing to share? I'd love to read it.
You can get a 6 month subscription to The Athletic for only $6. It is truly worth every penny of that in my humble opinion.
@RJM posted:I have to think The Athletic is struggling. They’re giving it away at $6.
That’s the intro offer, think they’ve had that for a few years. It was what hooked me a few years back. The $8/mo it costs after that is still a steal to me.
Thanks guys. We actually cancelled ours a while back so it took us a sec to read the article too. The San Diego Tribune ran a short story today (link below). James missed 10 days with a contusion on his wrist (hit a grand slam the day after he returned). His buddy, Jackson Merrill, just got sent to IL for a wrist injury which sucks so we are praying for a speedy and complete recovery. James has spent the last week hitting the ball hard right at people so he’s looking to move past that and still keep his strike outs low (down from like 33% in the ACL to under 18% this year in low A). The most excitement we hear from his is when a major leaguer comes through on rehab and buys the guys a nice dinner. 😄
A grand slam? The kid is a stud!
Thanks for sharing! Great video
That pitcher disrespected his power and paid the price. Way to go 20!
@Senna posted:That’s the intro offer, think they’ve had that for a few years. It was what hooked me a few years back. The $8/mo it costs after that is still a steal to me.
When it first came out the intro offer was $30 for six months. I took it. I didn’t renew when I realized I wasn’t reading enough to continue.
Hi all. Figured I’d send a mid season update. The boy had two stints on IL dealing with bruising on his wrist so he missed about 20 games. He switched to an ax handle bat which seems to have resolved the issue. After making the adjustment to swinging a bat basically without a nob (on a messy rehab assignment in the ACL) he came back and finished strong with a current season slash of .325/.447/.527 in Low A (OPS of 1.010). Best part is is strike out percentage is under 18% and he has more RBIs than strikeouts.
He’s gotten to share a dug out with major leaguers like Wil Meyers, Jurickson Profar and Mike Clevinger (Wil and Profar were great with him) and the team “won” the first half of the California league for a berth in the end of season playoffs so he got his dogpile moments. You will often find him with the Gatorade cooler when they have a walk off or for the first franchise combined no-hitter. He finished out before the all star break with his 7th home run this year in his last at bat today.
As always, I have to share the real stuff. Last away series he was wearing a different number…because he left his jersey in his locker room. He FaceTimed me grumbling and cleaning out the fridge because the guys were gross. 😂 And he is supposedly on his way to AZ to get his driver’s license before he heads home tomorrow. He was supposed to get it when he was on rehab but didn’t think it through and thought he could drive himself to take the test. 🤦🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
I’m in Mozambique for work cheering on his HS teammate who got drafted (and hopefully will get drafted) as well as some of our HSbbweb friends who have high hopes!!
Thanks for the update! Thought of him while watching the draft tonight. Hope that he is having fun...the pressure and other stuff can sometimes get in the way of that. I always tell my kids to, in order, have fun and be awesome!
Eat some Peri Peri chicken there in Mozambique! The best chicken I have ever had was in Maputo.
Awesome! Thanks for the update!
I had lulas last night but will get Frango e peri peri today in your honor @used2lurk
Double rec on piri piri chicken. Can't wait to see him at Petco.
Has this thread turned into a platform for spies to speak in code or what?!? Piri piri? Lulas and Frango?! Maputo & Mozambique? Really?? Just tell us what’s coming already! And stop speaking in chicken!!
A message from the chickens..."pluck you!", I kid, I kid!
Exciting news, sounds like James is experiencing many different aspects of baseball life. Safe travels!
@2022NYC posted:A message from the chickens..."pluck you!", I kid, I kid!
And there it is. The typical Yankee fan response. Kidding or not.
Lots of James chatter on the interwebs right now. That has to be unnerving. Or exciting. Or both. Best of luck!
Thank you @JCG. Definitely more unnerving than anything for us parents but he seems to be handling it fine. Went 4-5 last night with a double and this home run 430 to left center field.
He has a beautiful swing.
Looks effortless.
...And James is still a Padre after the Hader trade. Woo hoo!!!!
His and another prospect's name (maybe more) is in the discussion with a trade, Nats for Soto. That would bring him closer to family!
Literally every prospect is in a discussion for a trade for Soto - according to someone.
On MLB Central, they just mentioned prospects that could get Soto and the one they all want is ............. James!!!
@CoachB25 posted:On MLB Central, they just mentioned prospects that could get Soto and the one they all want is ............. James!!!
That’s because he was raised right.
Poor guy is still just trying to beat the big sisters. He is just PTM's baby!
Welcome to the Nationals!
The life of a Professional Baseball player. Adjusting to a "new" organization. Fortunately. Scott C. the player agent has "inside" knowledge.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
Bob
Padres acquire
- OF Juan Soto
- 1B Josh Bell
Nationals acquire
- LHP Mackenzie Gore
- OF Robert Hassell III
- SS C.J. Abrams
- OF James Wood
- RHP Jarlin Susana
- 1B Eric Hosmer (per the New York Post)
Wow!
Way to go Paula! Closer to home. And he will play with Seths pitching coach. Look up the Whitewall Ninja.
Hosmer to Nats? Thought he said no to a Nats deal?
One comment just made is that this trade might "fast-track" some of this talent to MLB.
I love James Wood part of Soto trade. The league thinks highly of James! He’s the next Aaron Judge.
Nats ST complex close to us. My new team!
Check this out!
It’s likely many people thought getting traded to the Nationals is coming home. But the journey to get to Washington just got a lot more local. James’ parents can see him play any weekend now. The Nationals minor league teams are in VA, DE, PA and NY. Upstate NY is a bit of a trip. But, it’s a doable long weekend.
@PTWood posted:Thank you @JCG. Definitely more unnerving than anything for us parents but he seems to be handling it fine. Went 4-5 last night with a double and this home run 430 to left center field.
So happy for his success. I hope he handles this transition with ease. I know there is likely anxiety on all fronts just due to change.
PT;
When he is assigned to Harrisburg, please introduce himself to the Hitting Coach Micah Franklin, one of Goodwill Series players.
Ask Micah about our game with the National HS Korean Team at the Korean Pro Stadium.
Bob
The Wood Family lives in MD. Spring training is in FL so although not Washington it's much closer to home. No more watching televised games in the middle of the night.
Plus he is closer to his GF.
Hope that they are all happy.
Hey all. We are all processing. He found out the same time everyone else did — he is on a bus on the way to an away series in Visalia and now has to find out m what’s next. He was super grateful to be part of the Padres organization. Time to pivot.
I am happy you are closer to your son and maybe more home visits. I am sorry to hear that your food budget will quickly increase and will make inflation seem like loose pocket change
PT, you all live in MD? 2023 is playing at the University of de this coming weekend. Will James be playing at Harrisburg? Might be a nice trip for us to watch him, not too far from us now. We used to live outside philly. Anyway, happy for you!
I just read an article stating James Wood has the most power of any player in the minors.
My son when he saw the trade...."Oh yeah I faced him in 16U PG down in GA. You could just tell he was different". Good luck to your son!
@Dadof3 posted:PT, you all live in MD? 2023 is playing at the University of de this coming weekend. Will James be playing at Harrisburg? Might be a nice trip for us to watch him, not too far from us now. We used to live outside philly. Anyway, happy for you!
I will try to answer for Paula. Harrisburg is the AA affiliate, this is James first full season at A so he isn't there yet, but he will be. There isn't much of the season left so maybe they might keep him at the spring training facility. Hoping that she can fill us in when things settle down.
Dadof3 is your son going to a camp at U of Delaware? Showcase? Is he interested in the program?
You can shoot me a pm.
@TPM posted:I will try to answer for Paula. Harrisburg is the AA affiliate, this is James first full season at A so he isn't there yet, but he will be. There isn't much of the season left so maybe they might keep him at the spring training facility. Hoping that she can fill us in when things settle down.
Dadof3 is your son going to a camp at U of Delaware? Showcase? Is he interested in the program?
You can shoot me a pm.
Low A is Fredericksburg VA. It’s 65 mikes from where James was born in MD. Knowing home is MD I’m guessing the family lives somewhere near where he was born. High A Wilmington DE is 110 miles away. AA Harrisburg PA is 100 miles away. AAA Rochester NY is a long weekend, 365 miles away The big prize is 20 miles away.
Hey all. Coming up for air. I’ll give you the good, the bad and in between. So the good news is James was apparently very wanted by both sides. The Padres tried to hold on and the Nationals insisted. So that is comforting and encouraging and very humbling especially since most of the DC fan base just hates the ownership for trading Soto. James is going from a team that is investing in winning (although obviously very willing to…well…sell the farm to do so) to one that is being sold, which is unsettling. He was truly happy with an incredible experience with the Padres and made good friends with players and built great relationships with the coaches, trainers, administrators and fans. The business side of all of this is brutal and abrupt. You know that in theory but the reality of a 19 year old on a bus with his team, with a window that won’t quite close…halfway through a 5 hour ride to a 6-game away series… finding out he was being traded at the same time and the same way the rest of the baseball world did…well that’s the reality. He didn’t get a call for at least and hour (because things weren’t finalized). Then he had a very kind call with the GM. He gets to the game and is just kinda hanging out in the locker room alone with no clue what the next step were. I think once he’s back on a field he will be fine but this part is a little messy. He is being flown to the Low game (they are currently away in NC)
We are excited that it will be much easier to get to games. We are worried about the additional pressure and distractions of being a home town kid. We are excited that the pathway to promotions is more open with the National (God-willing) and not looking forward to having to learn a whole new organization and even spring training local. Although the good part of spring training is he’s close to @TPM !!!
I was talking to my college roommate who is an ordained minister and she said one sentence that settled my heart. She said “may his tribe increase.” He’s a great kid and a great player. Now he will get to know more people and more people will get to know him. He will keep working hard and the rest is out of our hands. At least he’s following the HSBBW motto of going where you are loved with the pro ball caveat of “not that you had a damn choice.” 😂
Thanks so much guys! You are the best.
@PTWood. Thank you for the great update. Always cool to be taken a little behind the curtain of pro sports. Nothing but positive vibes being sent to James and your family.
@Dadof3 yes we live in MD and he’s assigned to the Low A team in Fredericksburg
PTWood aka Paula,
As I told you on many occassions, the business side of baseball is brutal. I hope that everyone reading will understand this. The good part is that he is learning early, about how it all goes down and someday he will have a say in his own destiny!
DK was in Jupiter for first full season and it was really great. He always had a friend or family in the audience, James will be fine, he will learn to handle the distractions!
Paula, if I may, I'd like to share a brief story. I coached a young man in high school who was All-State 1st Team and played centerfield. He went off to college and got drafted as an outfielder. He did well. He was traded and traded and ... He didn't understand why. The answer was obvious to me and I explained it to him when we talked. He had all of those qualities in a player and person that teams wanted. These various teams wanted him in trade packages. I am positive that James is in the same category. The second part of the journey for my former player was that the last team he was traded to wanted to make him a pitcher. He had never pitched. He had a tremendous arm. Again, he didn't understand. The fact was that with this change, he was fast-tracked to MLB. With each of these changes, he grew some. With each of these changes, he found something inside of himself that enabled him to reach new heights. James will do the same. As a parent, I know that you are so excited about this. However, don't forget that so many have similar skills. It will be the man that James is and becomes that will make him stand out.
@CoachB25 thank you for your advice. We are acutely aware of all of the amazing talent in the MILB/MLB. You think you know what’s out there and then the international draft happens and you’re playing with an 18 year old throwing 100. As for excited…TBH that was the hardest part of this. So many people think we’d be excited he’s closer to home. That is not what we are feeling. We are deeply proud of all our kids and what they are accomplishing but even more, the people they are. We were excited the day he got drafted. Now, we cheer for him when things go well and we are there for him when they don’t. But mostly are aware of the awesome and unique opportunity he has. We don’t take it for granted and know this journey has very unpredictable ups and downs so we try not to let any high get to high or any low get to low. We try to be his north star when he needs it and to help him manage through all while staying true to himself.
@PTWood posted:We were excited the day he got drafted. Now, we cheer for him when things go well and we are there for him when they don’t. But mostly are aware of the awesome and unique opportunity he has. We don’t take it for granted and know this journey has very unpredictable ups and downs so we try not to let any high get to high or any low get to low. We try to be his north star when he needs it and to help him manage through all while staying true to himself.
This is amazing advice.
Not sure where it will be - Salisbury, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Hartford -- but I'm sure I will have the pleasure of coming to one of his games next season. Best of luck to James.
I just hope the Nats find the good buyer that the players and fans deserve. That part is is rough.
Wow. Talk about a thread blowing up. Just to share my 15 yo was talking about this trade a couple days ago. He reported that while at a PG event in AZ this summer, they caught a game where this guy, "with tree trunks for legs... literally each one was like my chest (see hand gestures here) ... just a massive guy", was playing and stood out physically and talent wise. It was James. He also mentioned that there were latin american pitchers chucking 98-100mph but were crazy wild. One guy spiked 3 FBs in a row and the catcher was getting so mad at him (probably concerned about preserving his biologic potential for future progeny).
@PTWood posted:@Dadof3 yes we live in MD and he’s assigned to the Low A team in Fredericksburg
Going to see the Fred Nats on the 13th for the first time! I went to college in Fredericksburg and getting ice cream at Carl's in the 'burg is a must. It's on the National Historic Register....and the custard is great! (I will watch my own son's game on my phone!)
@PTWood if you are going that night DM me so I can meet you!
Can't wait to see James play while the tickets are reasonable!
...and when he gets to AA and you come see him play in Richmond, we will have a grand gathering and get @fenwaysouth to come, too!
I’m still in Mozambique but I will pass the message on to Kenny in case he goes! He will be in NC this weekend for games. James arrived last night. And the James stories are so appreciated. He is all legs and arms and he’s always friends with the smallest guy on the team. Here he is in Lake Elsinore with Trevor Hoffman’s son:
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@keewart posted:Going to see the Fred Nats on the 13th for the first time! I went to college in Fredericksburg and getting ice cream at Carl's in the 'burg is a must. It's on the National Historic Register....and the custard is great! (I will watch my own son's game on my phone!)
@PTWood if you are going that night DM me so I can meet you!
Can't wait to see James play while the tickets are reasonable!
...and when he gets to AA and you come see him play in Richmond, we will have a grand gathering and get @fenwaysouth to come, too!
Exciting times! I'd love to see James in either Fredericksburg or Richmond. Very excited for the opportunity to see James live.
@keewart, he'll be managed by new HC Jake Lowery in Single-A. I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict he is a chip off the "old block"! He learned from one of the best. https://community.hsbaseballwe...of-frednats-single-a
@TMM_Dad posted:WARNING: Turn the sound off!
James went 4-6 last night in his FredNats debut. His home run was found on Twitter.
Nice start with the new organization, to no one's surprise.
You weren’t kidding about turning the sound off. The play by play guy is the worst I have ever heard. Sounds like a coked up Gus Johnson
The play by play guy is so bad it’s hysterical. But, it’s hysterical once. Listening to him for an entire game would be right up there with listening to an ABBA album.
Here is the Dad version. We still don’t know how they got this…Kenny thinks one of the other parents sent on the video after asking him for it. 🤦🏽♀️ Any way I think it’s cute becuase that’s as excited as Dad gets. I would have just been giggling.
Love it! Can't wait for spring training!
Lookie here 👀👀👀👀
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Mom says James has settled in nicely, as you can see! Has had many friends and family come to watch him play!
Let’s gooooo!!!
Love opening my weekly wrap up of the athletic to see a a name I know!! Seems like its been a good move so far.
#3 prospect in Nationals system. His stats are amazing.
Sorry for the delayed response. I’ve been a bit sick. Got tested for malaria, typhoid, COVID (welcome to Africa) and was diagnosed with…a bad virus. 😂 Anyway…Thank you guys so much!! Special shout out and humble appreciation to HSBBW family who have made it to games! James took a couple of balls to the arm (one in-game and one in practice) so he missed a few games but he’s back swinging it again now.
Take care of yourself. I hope you fully recover soon.
@PTWood posted:Sorry for the delayed response. I’ve been a bit sick. Got tested for malaria, typhoid, COVID (welcome to Africa) and was diagnosed with…a bad virus. 😂 Anyway…Thank you guys so much!! Special shout out and humble appreciation to HSBBW family who have made it to games! James took a couple of balls to the arm (one in-game and one in practice) so he missed a few games but he’s back swinging it again now.
Lots of stuff going around everywhere. When are you coming 🏡? Stay well.
Wow! James is getting some serious press this spring as the top prospect lists come out. He seems to be getting tagged as the rising star of the whole group. Congrats to him and the whole family. Hope you a re enjoying the heck out of it all, @PTWood. Must be incredibly exciting.
Edit to say I know it's only spring in the hearts of baseball fans. Supposed to be -2F here on the CT coast this evening. Definitely not spring.
Thanks @JCG. It has been really nice to see his hard work and production recognized but we've also seen how volatile rankings can be so we are keeping it all in perspective. James more than anyone. He's just putting his head down and working. We are so impressed with how much he's matured. He went down to FL on his own to work out on Dec 28 first with his HS and then on his own. Somehow ended up hitting most days with an MLB all-star SS. Lol. He started with the team on the first so we are just strapping in for whatever this year brings!!
Nice article!