Alex Wood, Starting Pitcher, San Francisco Giants

Date of Birth: 1/12/1991
Birthplace: Charlotte, North Carolina
College: University of Georgia

Alex Wood, starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2012. After less than two years in the minor leagues, he was called up to the Braves in 2013. In 26 games in the minor leagues, he had a 9-5 record with a 1.68 ERA.

In 2013, Wood pitched 77.2 innings in 31 games with the Braves. He was both a starting pitcher and a relief pitcher, finishing the 2013 season with 77 strikeouts to 27 walks, a 3-3 record, and a 3.13 ERA. He finished the 2014 season with 171.2 innings pitched in 35 games and he had an 11-11 record with 170 strikeouts to 45 walks and a 2.78 ERA.

Wood was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 30, 2015. He finished the season with a 12-12 record, 139 strikeouts to 59 walks, and a 3.84 ERA in 20 games with the Braves and 12 games with the Dodgers. He pitched 2.0 innings in one postseason game and he gave up 4 hits, including a home run, and 4 runs.

Wood spent several months on the DL in 2016 with an elbow problem that required surgery. He pitched 10 games from the starting rotation and 4 games as a reliever, finishing the season with a 3.73 ERA, 1 win to 4 losses, and 66 strikeouts to 20 walks. He pitched just 2.0 innings in the postseason and he gave up 2 hits and no runs.

Wood had a good 2017 season, finishing with a career low ERA of 2.72. He had a career high 16 wins (to 3 losses) and 151 strikeouts to 38 walks in 152.1 innings in 27 games. In the postseason, he pitched 12.1 innings in 3 games and he gave up 5 hits and 4 runs, all of which were home runs. He struck out 13 batters and walked 2. He set a Dodgers' World Series record in Game 4 when he became the first Dodgers pitcher to go hitless through five or more innings. In the sixth inning, with two outs, he gave up a home run to George Springer to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Wood finished the 2018 season with 9 wins and 7 losses, 135 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a 3.68 ERA in 151.2 innings in 33 games. In the postseason, he pitched 6.2 innings in 9 games and he gave up 8 hits, 3 home runs, and 4 runs. He struck out 9 batters and walked 4.

The Dodgers traded Wood to the Cincinnati Reds on December 21, 2018. He spent most of the 2019 season on the DL with a back injury. In 35.2 innings in 7 games, he had 1 win and 3 losses and a 5.80 ERA.

Wood became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He returned to the Dodgers on January 15, 2020. He finished the shortened 2020 season with no wins and 1 loss, 15 strikeouts to 6 walks, and a 6.39 ERA in 12.2 innings in 9 games. In the postseason, he gave up 5 hits and 1 run in 6.2 innings in 4 games, and he had a 1.35 ERA.

Wood elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He signed with the Giants on January 14, 2021. He spent time on the IL in 2021. He finished the season with 10 wins and 4 losses, 152 strikeouts to 39 walks, and a 3.83 ERA in 138.2 innings in 26 games. In the postseason, he pitched 4.2 innings in one game and he gave up 2 hits and no runs.

Wood became a free agent on November 3, 2021. A month later, on December 1st, he re-signed with the Giants.

Career pitching statistics for Wood through 2021 include:

• 214 games played
• 990.1 innings pitched
• 63-48 win-loss record
• 935 strikeouts to 283 walks
• 3.50 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Alex Wood
ESPN - Alex Wood