Matthew Wood

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.