Philadelphia Phillies select Arkansas RHP Gage Wood in 2025 MLB Draft

The Philadelphia Phillies have selected Arkansas right-handed pitcher Gage Wood with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Wood spent three seasons at Arkansas.

Wood made started in all 10 of his appearances on the mound this past season. He finished the year with a 3.82 ERA and a career-high 69 strikeouts in 37.2 innings pitched. In comparison, Wood only walked seven batters this year and had just two wild pitches.

Wood had his best performance of the season in Arkansas’ 3-0 win over Murray State in the College World Series. In the victory, Wood never left the mound, recording only the third no-hitter in CWS history and a record 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning game.

While this was Wood’s crowning achievement while at Arkansas, it was far from the only time he impressed scouts. In three years at Arkansas, Wood amassed 55 appearances.

He posted a combined 4.33 ERA, along with 167 total strikeouts in 108.0 innings pitched. In 2023, Wood was named an All-SEC Freshman-Team selection.

Gage Wood played high school baseball at Batesville High School (AR). He was the No. 4 overall prospect and No. 3 right-handed pitcher in the 2022 recruiting cycle from Arkansas, according to Perfect Game.

Wood suffered a shoulder injury this past spring but ultimately returned in time to be a major contributor for Arkansas in the CWS. Ahead of the draft, MLB.com provided an in-depth analysis of Wood’s game and how it might translate to the next level.

“Wood has one of the best fastballs in the Draft, sitting at 94-96 mph and reaching 98,” the analysis read. “Its combination of velocity and carry, along with his low release height and flat approach angle, produce elite rates of chases, as well as overall and in-zone swings and misses. He relies heavily on his heater and a power 82-85 mph curveball that shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch.

“Wood’s upper-80s slider isn’t nearly as effective as his curve and he barely uses a changeup with similar velocity and decent fade. After battling the strike zone as a freshman, he has carried a 5 percent walk rate the last two seasons. He has the ingredients to succeed as a starter, though he has also had shoulder issues in high school and will have to prove he can handle the workload.”

The 2025 MLB Draft is July 13-14 in Atlanta during All-Star week. July 13 is the first three rounds. July 14 is rounds 4-20. Day 1 coverage is MLB Network/ESPN starting at 6pm ET. Day 2 coverage is via MLB.com starting at 11:30am ET.