Hunter Wood

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #27 prospect in 2017
  The Rays took a flyer Wood after he showed promising arm strength as a junior college freshman in 2013, and he's steadily established himself as a legitimate starting pitching prospect. After performing well in full-season leagues in 2015, Wood earned innings in the Arizona Fall League. He took another step forward in 2016, earning a mid-season promotion to Double-A. Evaluators are intrigued by Wood's promising stuff. He shows the potential for a plus fastball, consistently sitting at 91-93 and getting up to 94-95 when he needs to, though he has touched as high as 97. The pitch also earns praise for getting on hitters quickly with explosive life as it enters the hitting zone. Wood's curveball earned solid-average grades in 2016 because of its late vertical break and tight spin. The biggest criticism against Wood is that he has a thin-shouldered frame that doesn't fit the starter prototype, though he could be an effective reliever. He has shown flashes with his changeup, and some evaluators came away impressed with his cutter, though he doesn't use either offering frequently. Wood will aim to continue proving himself in the upper minors in 2017.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #24 prospect in 2016
  An Arkansas prep product, Wood signed after a year at Howard (Texas) JC and has put himself on the prospect map. The Rays originally intended to develop Wood as a reliever, but he showed promise in his pro debut, and the Rays opted to try starting him. In 2015, Wood started and relieved, though many of his relief outings lasted several innings. In the Arizona Fall League, Wood relieved, mostly to get reps against quality competition. He has the raw stuff to fit in the rotation, with a plus fastball that sits in the low to mid-90s, and he shows the ability to navigate both sides of the strike zone with his fastball. Wood also has a promising curveball, which some scouts feel could be a plus offering. The pitch shows late vertical break and tight spin. Wood also has some feel for a changeup. After dominating enough at low Class A Bowling Green in 2015 to earn a late-season promotion to high Class A Charlotte, Wood figures to return to Charlotte in 2016.