The Braves had to add a few players to the 40-man roster to protect them from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft earlier this week . MLB.com broke down ten underrated prospects that weren’t ranked in their Top 30, and right-handed pitcher William Woods made the cut:
Here’s what Callis had to say about Woods:
William Woods, RHP, Braves
Woods has had trouble staying healthy since turning pro as a 23rd-rounder out of Dyersburg State (Tenn.) CC in 2018 but helped himself with a strong showing in the AFL, where he displayed a mid-90s fastball and a hard slider. The 21 innings he threw in Arizona nearly doubled the 10 2/3 he worked during the regular season, when he dealt with forearm tightness.
Woods could have been selected in the Rule 5 Draft if a team wanted to roll the dice on a bullpen arm, but the Braves obviously see something there. He may be limited as a prospect, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he moved into Atlanta’s Top 30 as other guys graduate, or potentially get traded. Woods is likely to start 2022 in Rome.
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