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The Washington Nationals announced the winners of the Club’s 10th annual end-of-season awards, as voted on by members of the local media, on Saturday. National League All-Stars James Wood and MacKenzie Gore were named Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. Josh Bell was given the Good Guy Award, presented to a player for his always-professional dealings with members of the media, his work in the community and for representing the Nationals organization with class both on and off the field.
Wood, 23, was named to his first National League All-Star team in his first full Major League season. He enters play on Saturday leading the Nationals and ranked in the National League hitters in doubles (4th, 38), extra-base hits (7th, 68) and walks (10th, 85). He also leads the club in home runs (30), RBI (92) and hits (150) and leads qualified Nationals in on-base percentage (.349), slugging percentage (.471) and OPS (.821). Wood is the only player in Major League Baseball with at least 30 homers, 38 doubles and 15 stolen bases this season.
Not only did Wood lead the club and rank in the National League in several categories, he ranked in the 98th percentile in Major League Baseball in average exit velocity (94.2 MPH) and hard hit rate (56.0%). Wood connected on 81 batted balls over 108 MPH, behind only Aaron Judge (83) for the most in Major League Baseball.
Wood’s first full Major League season saw several highlights, including his first career leadoff home run on April 15 at Pittsburgh, a career-high and team-best 19-game on-base streak from April 20 to May 10 and his first career walk-off home run on June 19 vs. Colorado.
Rookie outfielder Daylen Lile also received votes for player of the year.
Washington’s other 2025 National League All-Star, Gore, 26, struck out a career-high 185 batters and ranked third in the National League with 10.43 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in his third season with the Nationals. The 185 strikeouts ranked fourth among National League left-handed pitchers. Gore opened the season strong, posting a 2.87 ERA with 108 strikeouts in his first 13 starts (75.1 IP) of the season.
Gore set a franchise Opening Day record with a career-high 13 strikeouts on March 27 against the Philadelphia Phillies. He became the 10th pitcher in Major League Baseball since 1900 to strike out 13 or more on Opening Day and became just the second pitcher since 1900 to strike out 13, allow no runs and issue no walks on Opening Day, joining Hall of Famer Bob Gibson in 1967. Gore matched that career mark with 13 strikeouts on April 19 at Colorado.
Also receiving votes for pitcher of the year were Jose A. Ferrer and rookie Brad Lord.
Bell, 33, earned the Good Guy Award in his return to the Nationals this season. In addition to his play on the field, Bell dedicated his off-the-field efforts to supporting local reading initiatives as well as youth baseball and softball programs. He wrote a children’s book titled “What Color is the Sky” and participated in Story Time at Nationals Park five times this season. He spent time at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and was named Nationals Youth Baseball Academy’s first-ever ambassador to the Nationals Nike RBI program. Throughout the season, he met with DC Interscholastic Athletic Association baseball and softball players.
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Bell’s 22 home runs rank second on the club and fourth among National League switch hitters entering play on Saturday. He is slugging .523 with an .859 OPS in 40 games since Aug. 8 and since May 28 , is hitting .280/.359/.479 with 14 doubles, 16 homers, 48 RBI, 37 walks and 39 runs scored in 93 games.
Also receiving votes for the Good Guy Award were Jake Irvin, Jose A. Ferrer and Alex Call.
Year Winners
2025 James Wood (Player), MacKenzie Gore (Pitcher), Josh Bell (Good Guy)
2024 Luis García Jr. (Player), Kyle Finnegan (Pitcher), Jacob Young (Good Guy)
2023 Lane Thomas (Player), Kyle Finnegan (Pitcher), Josiah Gray (Good Guy)
2022 Lane Thomas (Player), Erasmo Ramírez (Pitcher), Nelson Cruz (Good Guy)
2021 Juan Soto (Player), Kyle Finnegan (Pitcher), Josh Bell (Good Guy)
2020 Juan Soto (Player), Max Scherzer (Pitcher), Sean Doolittle (Good Guy)
2019 Anthony Rendon (Player), Stephen Strasburg (Pitcher), Sean Doolittle (Good Guy)
2018 Bryce Harper (Player), Max Scherzer (Pitcher), Sean Doolittle (Good Guy)
2017 Anthony Rendon (Player), Max Scherzer (Pitcher), Ryan Zimmerman (Good Guy)
2016 Daniel Murphy (Player), Max Scherzer (Pitcher), Ryan Zimmerman (Good Guy)