Friday, July 25

Welcome to the latest edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter. This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato.

WASHINGTON -- When James Wood found out his longtime friend, Azzi Fudd, was going to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park, he asked her which jersey she was going to wear.

“I was like, ‘My own,’” Fudd said with a smile. 

The University of Connecticut women’s basketball championship-winning standout guard was recognized by her hometown Nats on Monday. Fudd, the 2025 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, attended St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., with Wood before he transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. 

“This is definitely an honor, and I definitely feel special,” Fudd said. “Hearing that this was going to happen was super cool. But being here now, knowing that this is real -- [the Nationals] just gave me this personalized Nats jersey with my name and number on the back ... I’m so excited and I’m so grateful.”

Wood greeted Fudd on the field during pregame warmups, where both families were present to enjoy the moment. Fudd played basketball with Wood’s sister, Sydney; their fathers played against each other in college; and Fudd and Wood went to prom together in 2021. 

“The whole Wood family is incredible,” Fudd said. “With James, we are always checking on each other, we're watching each other on TV. I think that's just a crazy flex to say, ‘I'm watching my friend, the guy I went to prom with, he’s playing professional baseball, he’s watching me.’ So it's super cool checking on each other, making sure we're doing well. I played with his sister, our parents have known each other for years, so we have a great connection.”

It is a friendship of 22-year-old athletes who already have decorated careers. 

In addition to this year’s title honors, Fudd’s accolades include a 2025 All-Big East First Team selection, 2022 Big East All-Freshman Team member, three-time Gatorade Washington, D.C. Player of the Year (2019-21) and 2021 McDonald’s All-American. 

Since debuting on July 1, 2024, Wood has earned an All-Star selection and T-Mobile Home Run Derby invitation while ranking atop the leaderboards in several statistical categories in his first full Major League season. 

Fudd had never seen Wood play in a Major League game in-person; Wood hadn’t seen her throw out such a first pitch. Wood’s advice: don’t hit the ground but don’t throw it over the catcher’s head, either. Fudd delivered. 

“She works really hard. She’s had that for a long time, and she’s really driven,” Wood said, adding, “It’s cool to see someone I’ve known for a while being really successful and seeing that journey.”

Major League callups are rarely expected. Left-hander Konnor Pilkington had planned to do laundry on Tuesday. Instead, he was traveling to Washington, D.C., to join the Nationals. 

The Nats selected Pilkington’s contract and optioned right-hander Mason Thompson to Triple-A Rochester. Pilkington received a phone call from Red Wings manager Matthew LeCroy around 10:30 p.m. ET Monday to hear the news. 

“I was going to do laundry this morning in Rochester,” Pilkington said in front of his locker in the Nationals’ clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon. “So I had to do laundry last night, and ended up not going to sleep till about 2 o'clock. Woke up at 6 or 6:30 or so, left at 7, and then I got here not too long ago, about an hour ago.” 

This is Pilkington’s first regular-season stint with the Nats. He signed a Minor League deal last offseason and participated in Major League camp. 

The Nationals will host Grateful Dead Day on Friday, Aug. 1, against the Brewers. Special ticket purchase is required, and it includes this jersey and a donation to the Rex Foundation. 

Right-hander Yoel Tejeda Jr. is ranked as the Nationals’ No. 17 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, following the prospect graduation of Daylen Lile. 

Tejeda, 22, was promoted to High-A Wilmington from Single-A Fredericksburg on Tuesday. He is 4-3 with a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts this season. 

MLB Pipeline evaluates Tejeda’s scouting grades as: fastball, 50; slider, 55; splitter, 50; control, 50; overall, 45. 

• Friday, Aug. 1: Grateful Dead Day; Syracuse University Day; Freedom Fireworks (postgame)
  
  
• Saturday, Aug. 2: Jacob Young bobblehead giveaway (first 10,000 fans in attendance); James Madison University Day
  
  
• Sunday, Aug. 3: Kids James Wood growth chart giveaway (ages 12 and under); Scout Day

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