Austin Wood

No college has more pitching heroes than Texas, and lefthander Austin Wood joined that list with his performance in the NCAA regionals. Wood entered a game against Boston College in the seventh inning and worked 12 1/3 innings before allowing a hit. All told, he pitched shutout ball for 13 innings, striking out 14 but receiving no-decision as the Longhorns won in 25 innings--the longest game in NCAA history. Wood threw 169 pitches, including 120 for strikes--no surprise because throwing strikes is his forte. Texas dropped Wood's arm angle from high three-quarters to nearly sidearm last year, and he has seen his fastball improve from 86-88 mph to 89-91 mph while maintaining good run this spring. He also throws a quality changeup, though he never has been able to master a consistent breaking ball. A senior who's the only draft-eligible arm who sees much action on the Longhorns staff, Wood could go between the seventh and 10th rounds and will continue to relieve in pro ball.