Washington Nationals All-Star outfielder James Wood on injury list for the first time

[p]Before being placed on the IL for the first time on Tuesday, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wood-james/l6jqaqVj/"]Wood[/a] took part in 350 of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/washington-nationals/CE026gRp/"]Nationals[/a]' 355 games since he made his MLB debut on July 1 , 2024, including all 114 of the teams' 2026 regular season.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pinckney-andrew/AeqCclOc/"]Andrew Pinckney[/a] from the Nats' affiliate Triple-A team in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rochester-red-wings/Qu6lqH4s/"]Rochester[/a] was called up to replace Wood in what will be the former's maiden major league game.[/p][p]The injury stirred from discomfort Wood felt during the seventh inning of his at-bat versus the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. While he did stay in the game at the time, he was ultimately replaced by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/crews-dylan/M7p099Yd/"]Dylan Crews[/a] in the eighth as the Nationals lost 6-3.[/p][p]"[b]It didn't feel right[/b]," Wood claimed after the game. "[b]Then I went out and played defense and throwing felt fine, running felt fine. But ​I just took a couple swings after to just see where I was at, if I felt good to keep playing, and ⁠I just wasn't really ​comfortable doing that.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="5d1d2a45-057e-40c7-9409-e7249c18ac0c" url="https://x.com/Nationals/status/2084758297056321736?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]An MRI exam on Tuedsay revealed that the outfielder suffered the oblique injury.[/p][p]"It showed a subtle, mild oblique strain on the left side," said Washington's manager Blake [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/butera-drew/lroKqHgf/"]Butera[/a]. "[b]We think it won't be very extreme. ‌But we do think it will take at least the 10 days, which is why we're IL-ing him.[/b]"[/p][p]Despite the injury, Butera described being "actually pretty happy" with the diagnosis as it could have been a more dire outcome. Wood, himself was also relieved.[/p][p]"[b]Obviously, it's not what you want to hear,[/b]" he said. "[b]But I feel like I'm in good hands here. Hopefully, once we get off (the IL), we'll be in better shape.[/b]"[/p][p]So far this season, Wood is batting a .265, with 30 home runs, 73 RBIs, as well as a .393 on-base percentage and a .535 slugging percentage. The latter two stats are career highs for the 23-year-old. His 100 runs scored and 90 walks in 2026 are also league bests as he was selected to his second straight All-Star Game.[/p][p]Throughout his career in the majors, Wood is .261 with 70 home runs, 208 RBIs, and 46 stolen bases.[/p][p]Pinckney was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft from the University of Alabama, with the 25-year-old batting .271 with 13 homers, 51 RBIs, 11 doubles, a .345 on-base percentage, and .425 slugging percentage throughout his 94 games with Rochester.[/p]