2025 MLB Draft Preview: Gage Wood scouting report
The 2025 MLB Draft is less than a month away — the first round kicks off on July 13, 2025 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #12, their second round pick is at #52, and their third round pick is at #84.
Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at University of Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood.
Gage Wood is a 6’0”, 205 lb. righthanded pitcher who graduated from Batesville High School in Arkansas in 2022, and was undrafted. He pitched out of the bullpen for the University of Arkansas in 2023 and 2024, then missed the first part of the 2025 season due to shoulder issues before joining the Razorbacks’ rotation for the final part of the season.
Wood’s stuff is described in a write-up today at BA as being “some of the best stuff in the class.” He has a fastball described by MLB Pipeline as “one of the best in the Draft.” It sits mid- to upper-90s with ride, and he compliments it with a “hammer” curve which is described as having plus potential. Wood has a slider as his third pitch, along with a changeup.
Wood had control issues as a freshman, though that has improved the past couple of seasons. Wood’s lack of a track record as a starter, his shoulder injury this year, and his lack of size all give rise to durability concerns and mean that there’s reliever risk there, though he would seem likely to move quickly if he ended up with a team that wanted to use him as a reliever. However, after his 19 strikeout no hitter against Murray State in the College World Series, Wood is almost certainly going to get the chance to start in the pros until he shows he can’t handle it.
As a freshman, Wood put up a 4.80 ERA in 30 innings over 23 games, with 42 Ks against 23 walks and 7 HBPs. As a sophomore he had a 4.46 ERA in 40.1 IP over 22 appearances, improving to 56 Ks against just 8 walks (and 5 HBPs), though his home runs allowed jumped from 1 to 6. He struck out 29 against 8 walks in 19 innings over six appearances in the Cape Code League last summer, prior to his junior season at Arkansas. This year, he registered a 3.82 ERA in 10 starts covering 37.2 IP, with 69 Ks against 7 walks and 5 homers allowed.
Baseball America has Wood at #94 on their top 500 list. MLB Pipeline’s draft rankings have Wood at #50. Keith Law’s top 100 list ranks Wood at #38. Kiley McDaniel’s top 150 list has Wood at #21. Fangraphs does not have Wood on their board.
Baseball America’s mock draft from June 9 has Wood going to the Houston Astros at #21, and also mentions him as a possibility with the Braves at #22. BA’s May 12 mock draft did not mention Wood. Keith Law’s mock draft has Wood in the “other names to watch.” Kiley McDaniel’s mock draft from June 18 has Wood going to the Twins at #16, but also mentions him with the A’s at #11, the Giants at #13, the Red Sox at #15 and the Cubs at #17. Jim Callis’s mock draft from the end of May did not include Wood. Jonathan Mayo’s mock draft from June 6 did not have Wood going in the first round, but mentioned him in connection with the Braves at #22. Jim Callis’s June 12 mock draft did not have Wood going in the first round, but mentioned him as a possibility with the Braves at #22 and the Phillies at #26. The Callis/Mayo combined mock draft from June 19 has Wood going to the Braves at #22.
A month or two ago we would have been talking about Wood as a possible option in the second round for the Rangers. Now, it seems likely he’s going in the first round, given his upside and his performance late in the season. The write-up from today about Wood compares him to Cade Horton, who went #7 overall to the Cubs in 2022 on a below-slot deal as a draft-eligible sophomore. Horton is currently pitching in the Cubs’ rotation.
Wood’s stock has shot up significantly over the last month or two, as he’s shown that he’s healthy and flashed quality stuff, so the older mocks and rankings aren’t something I’d put a lot of weight on. The Rangers are largely linked with prep shortstops at #12, but Wood is someone who, if he had pitched all year like he has of late, would be a potential top 10 pick. If they believe in the arm and that he can hold up, he’s someone they could see as a steal at 12.
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