The Name Eric Wood may not jump out at you. But, Wood – a Pirates third base prospect – is aiming to change that as he is having a huge impact while playing in the Arizona Fall League.
Ke’Bryan Hayes, Will Craig, and Kevin Kramer are amongst the top infield prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. However, Eric Wood is another third baseman on that list of prospects that goes unnoticed.
A sixth round draft pick in 2012, Wood has spent his last two seasons playing for the Double-A Altoona Curve. He is coming off of a year in which he hit .249 with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs in 118 games for the Curve. Wood struck out 88 times for a second consecutive season, but he also showed stellar plate discipline by walking a career high 52 times.
In five minor league seasons, Wood has compiled a .255 average with 31 home runs and 203 RBIs in 1641 at-bats through 471 games.
Following the conclusion of the 2016 season, Wood began playing for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League. Wood joins six other Pirates prospects on the Saguaros’ roster which also includes fellow third base prospect Connor Joe. Minnesota Twins top prospect Nick Gordon is also on the roster.
Through 19 Arizona Fall League games, Wood has been nothing short of phenomenal. Following a 4-RBI game in Surprise’s 9-3 victory over Peoria this afternoon, Wood is now hitting .351 with three home runs and leads the AFL with 20 RBIs and 27 hits.
Wood has been even more stellar in his last 10 games as he has hit .289 with one home run and 11 RBIs in that span.
Wood is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place on the last day of the Winter Meetings on Dec. 8. The Pirates have until Friday to protect Wood, who turns 24 years old next week, from the draft by adding him to the 40-man roster.
All in all, Wood has brought attention upon himself with his play despite being considered by a few as an under the radar prospect.
One of the true under the radar guys here at #AFL16 is #Pirates Eric Wood. I’ve raved about him all fall. Not much buzz. Terrific bat IMO.
— Bernie Pleskoff (@BerniePleskoff) November 11, 2016
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#Pirates roster is currently at 39. It’s likely they use Clay Holmes for that spot and then DFA someone to add Eric Wood
— Jason Shetler (@Jason_Shetler) November 10, 2016
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The Pirates have recently added reliever Dovydas Neverauskas and first baseman/outfielder Jose Osuna to the 40-man roster in order to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. However, whether or not they’ll do the same for Wood is still yet to be determined as the Pirates do have a plethora of infield prospects.
The Pirates third base prospect hasn’t blown anyone away when it comes to overall statistics throughout his minor league career. Many of the other top infield prospects have taken the spotlight away from Wood, but his play in Arizona this fall has to have surely opened some eyes.
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