Ex-Swamp Bat Wood Makes Major League Debut
By Don Leypoldt (Photo credit: Christopher Lakos/Univ of Georgia Sports Communications
Ex-Swamp Bat Wood Makes Major League Debut
May 31st, 2013- Former Keene Swamp Bat Alex Wood made his Major League debut last night for the Atlanta Braves, who defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 11-3.
In doing so Wood, who went 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in eight starts for the 2010 Swamp Bats, became the fourth NECBL alumnus to debut this season. The Georgia Bulldog southpaw struck out 36 in 38.2 NECBL innings. Wood is the 34th graduate to play in the Major Leagues this season and the 92nd alum overall to play in The Show.
Wood is also the 14th Swamp Bat to make the Majors.
A second round pick of the Braves in 2012, the 6’4”Wood has dominated Minor League hitters since his arrival on Atlanta’s farm. He had a 2.22 ERA and averaged a strikeout per inning last season at Class-A Rome.
Ranked as one of the Braves’ top prospects entering this season, Wood lived up to the hype, posting a Southern League best 1.26 ERA in 10 starts for the Double-A Mississippi Braves. He credited much of his breakthrough to a devastating knuckle-curve that he picked up from veterans Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel. His delivery, and the additional weapon, helped him hold Double-A hitters to a .195 average against and induce over five groundball outs for every three fly balls.
The NECBL congratulates Alex on this tremendous achievement.
