Gage Wood Stats & Scouting Report

IP	2.0
ERA	4.50
WHIP	1.500
BB/9	9.0
SO/9	22.5

Full name Austin Gage Wood
Born 12/15/2003 in Newport, AR
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Arkansas
Drafted in the 1st round (26th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025 (signed for $3,000,000).

View Draft Report

School: Arkansas Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

BA Grade: 50/High

Wood was a hard-throwing reliever for two seasons with Arkansas, then in 2025 moved into a full-time starting role. He suffered a shoulder injury after his second outing of the season and missed almost two months of the season before returning to the mound in mid April and dominating down the stretch. His season was highlighted by a complete game no-hitter in the College World Series against Murray State where he struck out 19 batters. While Wood only pitched 37.2 innings in his 2025 season across 10 starts, he posted a tremendous 46% strikeout rate and 4.7% walk rate. Wood is a stocky righthander with a 6-foot, 205-pound frame who attacks hitters with one of the best fastballs in the class. He sits in the upper 90s and will run the pitch up to 98 mph with great swing-and-miss traits at the top of the zone. Wood’s 32% miss rate with his fastball is a standout number, and the pitch plays up thanks to its flat approach angle and consistent location at the top of the zone. He has a north-south attack with a low-80s power curve that features impressive top-down shape and is his go-to secondary. Wood will also mix in a harder slider/cutter in the upper 80s and a rarely-used upper-80s changeup. Wood’s strikes have improved significantly since his freshman season. He should get every opportunity to start in pro ball, but has the pitch mix to succeed in the bullpen.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average

Adjusted Grade: 40

Track Record: The University of Arkansas ruled the back half of the first round of the 2025 draft. Four Razorbacks were taken in a 16-pick stretch, beginning with Wood the Phillies at pick No. 26. Wood spent three seasons in Fayetteville that culminated with a 19-strikeout no-hitter against Murray State in the College World Series. A little less than a month later, Wood heard his name called in the draft, and he signed for $3 million. He made his pro debut toward the end of the season with Low-A Clearwater, including an outing in the Florida State League playoffs.

Scouting Report: There’s zero doubt that Wood has the stuff to dominate hitters. The question is: Will he do so as a starter or as a reliever? The righthander’s 2025 season was interrupted by a shoulder injury that cost him two months, and his heaviest career workload is 59.1 innings, which came in 2024 and includes a stint in the Cape Cod League. One factor pointing toward a future in a rotation is a full, four-pitch repertoire headed by a dynamite fastball/curveball combination that he leaned on heavily with Arkansas. Beyond its velocity, Wood’s fastball earns raves for its analytical properties and the resulting miss rate of 32% in college. The Phillies would like Wood to use his slider—which they believe has at least average potential—and his changeup as he integrates himself into pro ball. The changeup, held with a split-finger grip, was seldom used in college and is a clear fourth pitch at this point. Another part of Wood’s professional education will involve learning how to moderate his between-start workload.

The Future: Wood’s college pedigree should allow him to move quickly through the system, and he should reach High-A Jersey Shore early in 2026 and could make it to the upper levels quickly. He’ll get plenty of chances to start, but he has a fallback option as a shutdown reliever as well.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50.

Draft Prospects

School: Arkansas Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

BA Grade: 50/High

Wood was a hard-throwing reliever for two seasons with Arkansas, then in 2025 moved into a full-time starting role. He suffered a shoulder injury after his second outing of the season and missed almost two months of the season before returning to the mound in mid April and dominating down the stretch. His season was highlighted by a complete game no-hitter in the College World Series against Murray State where he struck out 19 batters. While Wood only pitched 37.2 innings in his 2025 season across 10 starts, he posted a tremendous 46% strikeout rate and 4.7% walk rate. Wood is a stocky righthander with a 6-foot, 205-pound frame who attacks hitters with one of the best fastballs in the class. He sits in the upper 90s and will run the pitch up to 98 mph with great swing-and-miss traits at the top of the zone. Wood’s 32% miss rate with his fastball is a standout number, and the pitch plays up thanks to its flat approach angle and consistent location at the top of the zone. He has a north-south attack with a low-80s power curve that features impressive top-down shape and is his go-to secondary. Wood will also mix in a harder slider/cutter in the upper 80s and a rarely-used upper-80s changeup. Wood’s strikes have improved significantly since his freshman season. He should get every opportunity to start in pro ball, but has the pitch mix to succeed in the bullpen.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50.
School: Arkansas Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Wood is a 6-foot, 205-pound righthander who has pitched as a hard-throwing reliever for Arkansas in two seasons. He cut his walk rate from 16.4% in 2023 to 4.5% in 2024 and also pitched well in the Cape Cod League after the season. Wood has a plus fastball that sits 93-94 mph and has been up to 96 and an above-average curveball around 80 mph with solid downer shape. He’ll also mix in a solid slider and changeup in the mid 80s.