One of the chief questions surrounding the Nationals this season is when star prospect James Wood could be making his Major League debut, though that debate might be put on hold while Wood overcomes a minor injury. Wood left Thursday’s Triple-A game with tightness in his right hamstring, and Nats manager Davey Martinez told reporters (including Andrew Golden of the Washington Post) that the removal was precautionary in nature.
We could learn as early as today whether or not this injury is serious enough to merit a stint on the seven-day minor league IL, or if Wood could potentially be ready to go after another day or two of rest. Naturally the team is going to be as cautious as possible with Wood given that, if healthy, he seems to be forcing the issue of a call-up. Acquired from the Padres as part of the Juan Soto trade package in 2022, Wood was a consensus top-15 prospect in baseball even before he started obliterating Triple-A pitching. The 21-year-old is hitting .355/.465/.596 over 202 plate appearances with Triple-A Rochester, with nine homers and 10 steals (in 11 tries).
More from the Nationals and the Orioles…
- It has now been a month since a Grade 2 MCL sprain sent Lane Thomas to Washington’s 10-day injured list, and Martinez told Golden and company that Thomas will be re-evaluated this weekend. This could potentially mean an activation from the IL, or perhaps just a move up to Triple-A games in the next stage of Thomas’ rehab assignment. Thomas has already played in four games with Double-A Harrisburg, and Martinez said that Thomas has been a little sore but otherwise feeling okay in his return to action. Thomas was off to a slow start (.184/.250/.253) over his first 96 PA of the season, but the outfielder was the Nationals’ most consistent hitter in 2023, with 28 homers and a .268/.315/.468 slash line over 682 PA.
- The Orioles’ pitching depth has again become a talking point with John Means and Dean Kremer both hitting the 15-day injured list in the last few days. Tyler Wells has been on the IL since mid-April due to elbow inflammation, and the righty will start playing catch this week, manager Brandon Hyde told reporters (including Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun). This represents something of a restart of Wells’ recovery program, as Wells was shut down with more soreness after attempting some catch at the start of May. Given the setback, it would appear as though Wells is still several weeks away from a return to the 26-man roster, as he’ll need to ramp up before even starting a minor league rehab assignment. Wells has a solid 3.93 ERA over 222 1/3 innings for Baltimore over the last two seasons, working mostly as a starter though some struggles cost him his rotation spot last year.
- Right-hander Nathan Webb will miss the rest of the 2024 season after undergoing left Achilles tendon surgery, as Webb himself announced on his Instagram page. Webb underwent Tommy John surgery in spring 2023 and was slated to return to the mound around midseason. “I was only a few weeks away from getting into games after rehabbing….however, the good news is that I will make a full recovery and be 100 percent ready for Spring Training 2025,” Webb wrote. The latest injury won’t impact Webb’s status with the Orioles, as the club signed him to a two-year minor league contract last October with the understanding that Webb would already be missing a big chunk of the 2024 campaign. The 26-year-old Webb has yet to make his MLB debut, and he has a 6.11 ERA over 268 minor league innings in the Royals’ farm system.
I’m guessing Wells to the 60 day IL and a Cade Povich call up is in the works in the next week or so.
They won’t rush Cade for some short term stress.
He’s crushed it in AAA. I don’t think it’s a rush at all. Starters have been too effective to make it necessary til now
Thanks for putting Wood on my fantasy radar. Time to go scoop him up in those deep keeper/dynasty leagues if he’s still out there
He should be gone in most deep keeper leagues and all dynasty leagues by now
My report: available in 2/5 of my dynasty leagues. One is a 20 teamer the other is a 16
(Not available anymore)
Correction. 1 league that he is available in is a 12 team the other is a 16, I got that screwed up
I wish fantasy leagues could have a dedicated slot to prospects in the minors, I always hate committing a valuable roster spot on someone that never plays
Id even take it if I could use an IL slot on minors people
My report: available in 100% of my fantasy league.
No news on any MASN settlement?
Wtf does beltway mean?
It’s called the Beltway because of how hard the politicians in D.C. spank American citizens in the a*s. It’s the Way of the Belt.
The Capital Beltway is a major highway that encircles Washington DC. Inside the Beltway is a common expression for the national political scene. One also has the concept of Beltway Bandits, contractors based in the area who profit from federal spending.
Baltimore is maybe 50 miles outside the Beltway, but it has its own less famous Beltway that might have inspired the headline.
If I remember correctly, Houston has 2 beltways.
imagine the Puget Sound were just a river. Then, take 405 and mirror it on the west side of I5. That would make a Seattle beltway
Think of all the ways that Carlos Beltan can get into the HOF. It’s like that.
Let me Google that for you
My guess is July 1st vs. NYM when they start a homestand that includes STL. Not that many southpaws (Quintana, maybe David Peterson if he’s back) or they might just break the AS Break with him which would include a home stand with CIN/SD.