Travis Wood Stats & Scouting Report

IP	994
ERA	4.265
WHIP	1.316
BB/9	3.35
SO/9	7.253

Full name Travis A. Wood
Born 02/06/1987 in North Little Rock, AR
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Bryant
Debut 07/01/2010
Drafted in the 2nd round (60th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2005 (signed for $600,000).

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Wood is a long-term project, albeit an intriguing one because there aren't many lefthanders who can reach 95 mph. His fastball sat at 88-91 mph for much of the spring, but he started making more frequent forays into the mid-90s as the draft drew closer. Wood isn't tall, but he generates his velocity with a quick arm and athleticism. Scouts aren't crazy about his delivery, as he throws with a lot of effort and with some recoil. Wood hasn't shown much aptitude for spinning a breaking ball, and his curveball ranges from below-average to decent. For the most part, he just rears back and blows fastballs by inferior competition, so he'll have to make adjustments at the next level. Wood is considered a tough but not impossible sign. If teams decide he can't be steered away from Arkansas, the state may not have a player drafted in the first 10 rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Wood lost some of his luster as he battled shoulder problems and lost velocity. After posting a 7.09 ERA in the Double-A Southern League in 2008, he returned last season to win the circuit's ERA title (1.21) and pitcher of the year award. Wood's dramatic turnaround resulted from improved health and his mastery of a cutter. His fastball regained its previous 88-91 mph velocity, making it easier to set up his plus-plus changeup with fade. Righthanders used to crowd the plate and look for pitches on the outer half, but Wood now can bust them inside with his cutter. He also improved his command this season, which is necessary for a pitcher with average stuff. When the Reds signed Wood, he ran his fastball up to 94 mph at times, but he has struggled to gain weight and strength to maintain anywhere close to that velocity. Partly because of his thin frame, he has had durability problems. Scouts still wonder if he'll be more than a No. 5 starter because of his fringy velocity and his lack of a second plus pitch. His curveball is mediocre, so he doesn't project as a lefty specialist. Wood will go into spring training with a chance to make Cincinnati's rotation. The Reds don't have an established lefty starter (though he'll be battling fellow prospect Matt Maloney), which helps his chances.
Wood has been one of the system's most polished young pitchers from the day he signed for $600,000, but with every year there are more concerns as to whether he'll ever develop the stuff to complement his outstanding changeup. He has a small, skinny frame, and he battled shoulder problems that dropped his fastball into the mid-80s for much of 2007. Even at his best, Wood walks a tightrope. His fastball, which touched 94-95 mph just before the 2005 draft, is now fringe-average at 88-91 mph when he's healthy. He bounced back to that range during instructional league. If he can just maintain that velocity, he could be a big leaguer, because his changeup is still a plus-plus pitch with excellent deception, consistent arm speed and sink that can induce strikeouts or groundouts. His curveball still hasn't developed into an average pitch, which is another worry. After a lost season, he'll try to get back on track when he returns to high Class A.
Wood became a rare find as an Arkansas high school pitcher with some polish. The Reds were intrigued enough to draft him in 2005's second round and entice him from his college commitment to Arkansas with a $600,000 bonus. He handled low Class A well as a teenager last year. Wood boasts the system's top changeup, and it's one of the best in the minors. It's nearly impossible to discern that it's not a fastball coming out of his hand, and it has good sink right before it crosses the plate. He also has the confidence to throw it in any count, and his overall approach is extremely advanced for his age. He regularly topped out at 93-94 mph with his fastball as a high school senior and in his debut, though he pitched at 87-91 in 2006. He's a good athlete who repeats his delivery well and throws strikes. After two years of trying, Wood still is seeking a consistent curveball. There's some effort to his delivery and he doesn't have the biggest frame, so Cincinnati will have to watch him closely. He needs to add some strength. The curve will be the key ingredient in Wood becoming a No. 3 or 4 starter. He'll focus on his breaking ball this year in high Class A.
Wood is the highest-drafted Arkansas high school pitcher since the Reds took Dustin Moseley in 1999's supplemental first round. Wood intrigued teams by reaching 95 mph with his fastball as the draft approached, and he dominated two Rookie leagues after signing for $600,000. Wood's changeup drops off the table and already rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He fools hitters by repeating the same arm speed and motion as when he throws his fastball. He regularly hit 93-94 mph and threw to both sides of the plate with good life during the summer. He also features a cutter. Wood's curveball isn't as developed as his other pitches. The Reds have made refining his curve a point of emphasis, and they promoted him to Rookie-level Billings to work with curveball specialist Butch Henry. Wood has some effort in his delivery. Wood aced his introduction to pro ball and seems more than ready for low Class A. He has considerable upside, though coming up with a reliable breaking ball will be crucial.

Minor League Top Prospects

After posting a 7.09 ERA and 48 walks in 80 Double-A innings last year, Wood was a totally different pitcher in 2009. After improving his fastball command and cutter, he won the league's ERA title (1.21) and pitcher of the year award. Though Wood has a fringe-average fastball at 88-91 mph, he still relishes pitching inside. His best pitch is his changeup, with plus to occasional plus-plus action, showing outstanding late sink and separation from his fastball at 75-79 mph. He uses his 83-86 mph cutter, which he first started throwing at the end of 2008, to jam righthanders. Wood doesn't have a reliable breaking ball, but he'll mix in an occasional low-70s curve as a show-me strike early in counts.
Wood didn't win a game in the GCL because he worked short stints and moved to the Rookie-level Pioneer League after eight starts. He allowed two earned runs in the GCL, both scoring after he was lifted for reaching his pitch count, and struck out nearly two batters an inning. A bulldog on the mound, Wood attacked hitters with two quality pitches: a 93-94 mph fastball and an outstanding changeup. He showed such good arm speed, deception and action on his changeup that hitters routinely would start their swing, stop and then try unsuccessfully to restart it. Wood has a skinny frame but could throw in the high 90s when he fills out because his arm action is so quick. He's poised and has confidence in his stuff. "If he stays healthy, it's all there to pitch in the big leagues," Treuel said. "He just needs work on his breaking ball." Wood went to the Pioneer League to work on his curve with Billings pitching coach Butch Henry, who had one of the best in the game during his seven-year big league career.