A Happy Birthday Wish To An Atlanta Braves Pitcher

Aug 16, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Alex Wood (58) pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves youngster and starting pitcher Robert Alexander Wood turns 23-years-old today (January 12th).

Alex is from Charlotte, North Carolina and went to Ardrey Kell High School.  After high school he attended the University of Georgia where he was a stand out pitcher.  The Atlanta Braves made Wood their 2nd round selection in the 2012 Amateur Draft.

During the 2012 season, Wood began his pro career with the Rome Braves in Single A ball.  He went 4-3 with a 2.22 ERA in 13 starts.  He totaled 52 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched while only allowing one home run and 14 walks.  His WHIP totaled 1.006 for the season.

The Braves thought so highly of Alex that they invited him to the 2013 Spring Training in Disney.  He pitched little but he got some innings in with the team.   He began the 2013 year with Double A Mississippi.  He went 4-2 with a 1.26 ERA.  In 10 starts he had 62 strikeouts while only allowing one home run and 15 walks.  In his 57 innings pitched in Double A, he had a WHIP of .982.

Wood got promoted to Triple A Gwinnett and made only one start.  He won that game by pitching five innings giving up three hits, one run and two walks.  He totaled five strikeouts and won the game.

Less then a year after being drafted by the Braves, Alex Wood made his Major League Baseball debut on May 30th 2013 at the age of 22.  Wood made an appearance out of the bullpen going a perfect one inning.  He would continue to pitch out of the pen until June 18th verse the New York Mets.  With back and forth starts and bullpen work, Wood would finally take over a starting position on the rotation.

For the season (or the half he played), he went 3-3 with an ERA of 3.13 while tallying up 77 strikeouts in 77.2 innings pitched.  Only walking 27 hitters and 29 runs scored, his WHIP was 1.326.

He appeared in two playoff games this past season against the Dodgers.  Game 1 he had a great one inning pitched holding LA in the 7th inning.  In game three, and his finally appearance of the season, he let four runs score (none earned though) while striking out three hitters in 2.1 innings.

Going into the 2014 season, Wood looks to be slotted into the Braves rotation as the 4th or 5th starter.

A Happy Birthday wish to our Atlanta Brave, Alex Wood!