Blake Daniel Wood (born August 8, 1985) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professional ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the Kansas City Royals,

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...

, Cincinnati Reds and

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team h ...

Early life

Prior to playing professionally, he attended

North Gwinnett High School North Gwinnett High School is a public high school outside the city limits of Suwanee, Georgia, United States. It is part of the district Gwinnett County Public Schools. The school's principal is Nathan Ballantine. History North Gwinnett High ...

and then

Georgia Tech The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...

. In the summer of 2004, Wood pitched in the Alaska Baseball League for the

Anchorage Bucs The Anchorage Bucs Baseball Club is a college summer baseball team in Anchorage, Alaska. The team has been a member of the Alaska Baseball League since 1981. They were originally formed in 1980 as an Anchorage Adult League team. Team colors are ...

, and in the summer of 2005 played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

Wood was drafted in the third round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Royals, and he began his professional career that season. Playing for the

Idaho Falls Chukars The Idaho Falls Chukars are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and play their home games at Melaleuca ...

, he went 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts. He pitched for three teams in 2007 - the AZL Royals (0-0, 0.00 ERA in four starts), the

Burlington Bees The Burlington Bees are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Prospect League. They are located in Burlington, Iowa, and have played their home games at Community Field since 1947. Founded in 1889, the Bees played in Minor League Baseball' ...

(2-1, 3.03 ERA in seven starts) and the

Wilmington Blue Rocks The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Wilmington, Delaware, and play their home games at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. ...

(0-1, 4.66 ERA in two starts) - going a combined 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA in 13 starts. In 2008, Wood pitched for the Blue Rocks (3-2, 2.67 ERA in 10 starts) and

Northwest Arkansas Naturals The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at Arvest Ballpark, whic ...

(5-7, 5.30 ERA in 18 starts), going a combined 8-9 with a 4.25 ERA in 28 starts. In 144 innings, he allowed only 128 hits. Though he spent three games (two starts) with the AZL Royals in 2009, he spent most of the season with the Naturals, going 2-8 with a 5.83 ERA in 17 games (13 starts) with them. Overall, he went 2-9 with a 5.55 ERA in 2009. Wood made his MLB debut for the Royals on May 12, 2010. Wood went 6-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 106 appearances in two seasons with the Royals. On May 18, 2012, it was announced that Wood's 2012 season has ended due to a torn UCL in his right elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery.

Cleveland Indians

On November 2, 2012, Wood was claimed off waivers by the

. Wood was activated from the 60-day disabled list on July 14, 2013, and optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. On December 2, 2013, Wood signed a one-year Major League deal for 2014 with the Indians, avoiding arbitration. On May 26, 2014 the Indians designated Wood for assignment.

Return to Kansas City

On June 2, 2014, Wood was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals. He was designated for assignment on September 1, 2014. Wood elected free agency in October 2014.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Wood signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on November 18, 2014. He was named a Triple-A All-Star with the Indianapolis Indians. Blake Wood, 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game

Cincinnati Reds

On November 20, 2015, Wood signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds. Wood would enjoy the best season of his career, appearing in 70 games with a 3.99 ERA. He was designated for assignment on August 23, 2017. His 2017 season ended with a 5.65 ERA in 55 games for the Reds.

Los Angeles Angels

On August 25, 2017, Wood was claimed off waivers by the

. He continued for the remainder of the season in the Angels bullpen, appearing in 17 games. The Angels re-signed Wood to a 1 year deal after the season. On May 29, 2018, Wood was diagnosed with a UCL tear, requiring him to miss the remainder of the season and the beginning of the 2019 season while he undergoes Tommy John surgery.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wood, Blake Living people 1985 births Baseball players from Atlanta North Gwinnett High School alumni Major League Baseball pitchers Kansas City Royals players Cleveland Indians players Cincinnati Reds players Los Angeles Angels players Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball players Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox players Idaho Falls Chukars players Arizona League Royals players Wilmington Blue Rocks players Burlington Bees players Northwest Arkansas Naturals players Omaha Royals players Omaha Storm Chasers players Mahoning Valley Scrappers players Akron Aeros players Lake County Captains players Columbus Clippers players West Oahu Canefires players Surprise Rafters players Indianapolis Indians players Anchorage Bucs players