BY DAN GLICKMAN
Rochester Red Wings outfielder James Wood won the International League Player of the Month for May on Wednesday, becoming the first Red Wing to win the award since Jake Alu won it in September of 2022.
Wood, the top prospect in the Washington Nationals system according to MLB.com, hit a league-best .394 (28-for-71) in May and also led the league in on-base percentage (.506), slugging percentage (.746) and on-base plus slugging (1.252). He led the Red Wings in total bases (53), RBI (22), and walks (17) and tied in runs scored (18), hits (28), and home runs (7). Wood posts eight multi-hit games and had a 12-game hit streak from May 3-16, the longest for any Red Wing this season.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO.
The 6-foot-7 lefty won the award despite not playing since May 23, when he tweaked a hamstring during a game at Lehigh Valley. Wood was placed on the injured list early last week as a result. Red Wings manager Matt LeCroy said last week that the injury isn’t considered serious, and the hope is that Wood will return soon.
Shortly before his injury, there was speculation that Wood was nearing a call-up to the big leagues, as he was hitting .355/.465/.596 with nine home runs on the season so far. Wood, though, said he was focused on instead staying consistent.
“I’m just trying to be consistent,” he said at the time. “I’m just trying to get myself prepared, [and] sometimes the game just goes your way a little bit more times than others.”
“Obviously, [reaching the majors] is the goal, but I’m just really trying to stay focused on what I can accomplish here every day.”
The Red Wings, winners of four of their last five, are on the road this week. They play the second game of a six-game series with the Worcester Red Sox on Wednesday night at 6:45.
Leave a Reply