James Wood Biography

James Irvin Wood, born on September 17, 2002, is an American professional baseball outfielder who has played in Major League Baseball. Wood made his MLB debut in 2024 and was named an All-Star in both 2025 and 2026. Following a strong showing at the 2020 East Coast Pro Showcase, Wood was regarded as a top prospect for the 2021 MLB Draft. As a senior, he batted .258, which caused him to fall slightly in most draft prospect rankings. The San Diego Padres selected him in the second round with the 62nd overall pick during the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. He began his professional career with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Padres, batting .372 with three home runs, 22 RBI, and ten stolen bases over 26 games. Wood was promoted to Triple-A Rochester Red Wings to begin the 2024 season.