Matthew Wood

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #23 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: At Penn State in 2022, Wood's 1.147 OPS ranked second in the Big Ten as he hit .379/.480/.667 with more walks (36) than strikeouts (26). He finished top five in the conference in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. The Brewers drafted him that year with their fourth-round pick and signed him for $347,500.
  
  Scouting Report: There isn't one standout tool with Wood. He's a steady prospect on both sides of the ball and offers a consistent mix of 40s and 50s on his scouting card. He's a disciplined hitter who recognizes pitches well and makes frequent contact against both fastballs and breaking balls. It's a high-contact bat and, while Wood isn't that physical and his offensive value comes more on his on-base skills, the uptick in power he showed in 2022 points to a chance for 15-20 home runs. Wood is a good athlete for a catcher and moves around well behind the plate. His arm strength is average but plays up because of his quick exchange and allows him to record pop times around 2.0 seconds and at times in the low 1.9-second range, though he will need to improve his accuracy and avoid a tendency to rush his throws.
  
  The Future: Jeferson Quero is the best catching prospect in the organization and has more upside, but Wood is another young catcher who projects to stick at the position and has intriguing offensive potential. He could start his first full season in Low-A Carolina.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #177 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Penn State Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.4
  BA Grade: 35/High
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50
  Wood ranked second in the Big Ten in OPS (1.147) this season and ranked top five in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging, belting his way to a .379/.480/.667 line with 12 home runs and more walks (36) than strikeouts (26). Wood is a disciplined hitter with good bat control. He recognizes pitches well, showing the ability to square up fastballs and breaking balls, resulting in a low swing-and-miss rate. Wood isn’t that physical, but he has shown more power this year, with a chance to be a 15-20 home run hitter, though it’s his on-base skills that stand out more. Behind the plate, Wood threw out just 13% of basestealers this season, but his pop times are generally around 2.0 seconds and at times are in the low 1.9-second range. His throwing mechanics are good and he gets rid of the ball quickly, helping his average arm strength play up, though he will rush his throws at times and needs to improve his accuracy.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: At Penn State in 2022, Wood's 1.147 OPS ranked second in the Big Ten as he hit .379/.480/.667 with more walks (36) than strikeouts (26). He finished top five in the conference in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. The Brewers drafted him that year with their fourth-round pick and signed him for $347,500.
  
  Scouting Report: There isn't one standout tool with Wood. He's a steady prospect on both sides of the ball and offers a consistent mix of 40s and 50s on his scouting card. He's a disciplined hitter who recognizes pitches well and makes frequent contact against both fastballs and breaking balls. It's a high-contact bat and, while Wood isn't that physical and his offensive value comes more on his on-base skills, the uptick in power he showed in 2022 points to a chance for 15-20 home runs. Wood is a good athlete for a catcher and moves around well behind the plate. His arm strength is average but plays up because of his quick exchange and allows him to record pop times around 2.0 seconds and at times in the low 1.9-second range, though he will need to improve his accuracy and avoid a tendency to rush his throws.
  
  The Future: Jeferson Quero is the best catching prospect in the organization and has more upside, but Wood is another young catcher who projects to stick at the position and has intriguing offensive potential. He could start his first full season in Low-A Carolina.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: At Penn State in 2022, Wood's 1.147 OPS ranked second in the Big Ten as he hit .379/.480/.667 with more walks (36) than strikeouts (26). He finished top five in the conference in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging. The Brewers drafted him that year with their fourth-round pick and signed him for $347,500.
  
  Scouting Report: There isn't one standout tool with Wood. He's a steady prospect on both sides of the ball and offers a consistent mix of 40s and 50s on his scouting card. He's a disciplined hitter who recognizes pitches well and makes frequent contact against both fastballs and breaking balls. It's a high-contact bat and, while Wood isn't that physical and his offensive value comes more on his on-base skills, the uptick in power he showed in 2022 points to a chance for 15-20 home runs. Wood is a good athlete for a catcher and moves around well behind the plate. His arm strength is average but plays up because of his quick exchange and allows him to record pop times around 2.0 seconds and at times in the low 1.9-second range, though he will need to improve his accuracy and avoid a tendency to rush his throws.
  
  The Future: Jeferson Quero is the best catching prospect in the organization and has more upside, but Wood is another young catcher who projects to stick at the position and has intriguing offensive potential. He could start his first full season in Low-A Carolina.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  August Update: Wood had an outstanding 2022 season for Penn State, ranking second in the Big Ten with a 1.147 OPS while hitting .379/.480/.667 with 12 home runs and more walks (36) than strikeouts (26). The Brewers drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for $347,500. Wood has good plate discipline and bat control with his ability to square up both fastballs and breaking stuff. His offensive skill set leans on his on-base skills, though he has the potential to be a 15-20 home run hitter. Wood threw out just 13% of basestealers his final season at Penn State, but his throwing mechanics are good and he gets rid of the ball quickly. That helps his average arm play up and produces pop times generally around 2.0 seconds and sometimes into the low 1.9s, though he does have a tendency to rush his throws and will need to improve his accuracy.