Rolling Rookies: Chaparro hits 3 doubles in debut while Wood produces another 4-hit game for Nats

BALTIMORE (AP) — James Wood's first chance to play at Camden Yards was overshadowed by another dandy debut, although not by much.

Andrés Chaparro doubled three times in his first big league game to lead the Washington Nationals to a 9-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. Chaparro became the fourth player in major league history with at least three doubles in his debut — the first since Nick Evans of the New York Mets hit three at Colorado on May 24, 2008.

As for Wood, all he did was produce his second four-hit game in a span of 18 days.

“Who?” manager Dave Martinez joked when asked about Wood's big night.

Indeed, Chaparro stole the show to some extent from the 6-foot-7 Wood, who was on base for all three of Chaparro's doubles. The Nationals acquired the infielder from Arizona for right-hander Dylan Floro last month. Chaparro finally reached the majors at age 25 and had his parents, two brothers, a sister-in-law and his wife at the game.

“Last year if it would have happened, especially around this time, they were in Venezuela. I wouldn't have been able to have them here,” Chaparro said through a translator. “God works magic in different ways, and they were able to be here.”

Chaparro doubled Wood over to third in the fourth inning, and they both scored on sacrifice flies to give the Nationals a 4-2 lead. In the sixth, he doubled Chaparro to third again, and again both ended up scoring.

In the eighth, Wood doubled for his fourth hit and Chaparro doubled him home for an 8-2 lead.

The game included two rookies who have spent time near the top of prospect lists — Wood and Baltimore second baseman Jackson Holliday. Wood singled home the game’s first run in the first, and with men on first and third, Wood took off for second. He was caught by a pickoff throw from Trevor Rogers, but Wood stayed in a rundown long enough for Juan Yepez to score from third before the third out.

Wood is a Rockville, Maryland, native and went to Camden Yards growing up.

“Nice try. He's a National,” Martinez joked when that was mentioned after the game. “He told me he loves coming here.”

Wood made his debut July 1 and had four hits July 27 against St. Louis. Now he's repeated the feat.

“I was just seeing the ball well and was trying to get good pitches to hit,” Wood said. “I was trying to sit on the fastball. I was able to see a couple sliders early, so I sort of knew how they were going to break.”

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Washington Nationals' James Wood (29) advances toward home base to score on an RBI double hit by Andres Chaparro during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Nationals third baseman Ildemaro Vargas (14) and Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) celebrate their team's win over the Baltimore Orioles after a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Nationals' James Wood (29) slides into second base in front of Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) after hitting a double during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Rolling Rookies: Chaparro hits 3 doubles in debut while Wood produces another 4-hit game for Nats

Rolling Rookies: Chaparro hits 3 doubles in debut while Wood produces another 4-hit game for Nats

Washington Nationals' Andres Chaparro (19) celebrates on second base in front of Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) after hitting a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The process of picking a jury marched on Tuesday in the federal trial of three former Memphis police officers charged with federal civil rights violations in the January 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols.

A pool of 200 candidates answered questionnaires ahead of jury selection to assess their ability to serve on the panel. They answered questions from U.S. District Judge Mark Norris about whether they could be fair and impartial in the face of heavy media coverage before the trial and whether watching video of the beating would be a problem for them if they are chosen.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith have pleaded not guilty to charges that they deprived the 29-year-old Nichols of his rights through excessive force and failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering. The beating was caught on police cameras, triggering protests and calls for police reform. Two others, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., have already pleaded guilty to the federal charges and could testify against their former colleagues.

The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.

Nichols, who was Black, died in a hospital on Jan. 10, 2023, three days after he was kicked, punched and hit with a police baton following a traffic stop. Police video released that month showed the five officers, who also are Black, beating Nichols as he yelled for his mother about a block from his home. Video also showed the officers milling about and talking with each other as Nichols sat on the ground, struggling with his injuries.

The officers said Nichols was pulled over for reckless driving, but Memphis’ police chief has said there is no evidence to substantiate that claim.

An autopsy report showed Nichols died from blows to the head and that the manner of death was homicide. The report described brain injuries and cuts and bruises to the head and other areas.

Nichols worked for FedEx, and he enjoyed skateboarding and photography.

The three officers now facing trial, along with Martin and Mills, were fired for violating Memphis Police Department policies. They had been members of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit, which was disbanded after Nichols’ death.

Shortly after their dismissal, the five were charged with second-degree murder in state court, where they pleaded not guilty. They were then indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.

Mills and Martin have each pleaded guilty in federal court and are expected to plead guilty to state charges as well. A trial date in state court has not been set.

On Monday, the judge read a list of potential witnesses that includes Martin and Mills, in addition to two other former officers. Preston Hemphill fired his stun gun at the traffic stop scene but didn’t follow Nichols to where other officers pummeled him. Hemphill was fired. Dewayne Smith was the supervising lieutenant who arrived on scene after the beating. He retired instead of being fired.

Former Memphis police officer Justin Smith arrives at the federal courthouse for the second day of jury selection for the trial in the Tyre Nichols case Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Former Memphis police officer Tadarrius Bean, right, arrives at the federal courthouse with attorney John Keith Perry, right, for the second day of jury selection for the trial in the Tyre Nichols case Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Former Memphis police officer Demetrius Haley arrives at the federal courthouse for the second day of jury selection for the trial in the Tyre Nichols case Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

RowVaughn Wells, left, and Rodney Wells, parents of Tyre Nichols, arrive at the federal courthouse before the start of jury selection of the trial in the Tyre Nichols case Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, in Memphis. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

FILE - The image from video released on Jan. 27, 2023, by the City of Memphis, shows Tyre Nichols during a brutal attack by five Memphis police officers on Jan. 7, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (City of Memphis via AP, File)

FILE - This combo of images provided by the Memphis, Tenn., Police Department shows, top row from left, officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, and bottom row from left, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith. (Memphis Police Department via AP, File)

Former Memphis police officer Justin Smith, left, and attorney Martin Zummach, right, arrive at the federal courthouse for the second day of jury selection for the trial in the Tyre Nichols case Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Former Memphis police officer Demetrius Haley arrives at the federal courthouse for the second day of jury selection for the trial in the Tyre Nichols case Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Former Memphis police officer Tadarrius Bean arrives at the federal courthouse for the second day of jury selection for the trial in the Tyre Nichols case Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Jury selection continues in the trial of 3 ex-Memphis officers charged in Tyre Nichols' death

Jury selection continues in the trial of 3 ex-Memphis officers charged in Tyre Nichols' death

FILE - The screen at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans honors Tyre Nichols before an NBA basketball game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Washington Wizards, Jan. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton, File)