Gage Wood was selected by the Phillies in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft. (Tim Kelly/On Pattison)
Growing up in Arkansas, Gage Wood's exposure to the Philadelphia Phillies was pretty limited.
He said he went to a baseball camp as a youth in Little Rock and got to meet a former Phillies pitcher.
"Cliff Lee was there," Wood said. "I got to meet Cliff Lee and he signed my glove."
From one Razorback to another.
But aside from that, the Phillies were just one of 30 major league teams. That is, until they selected him in the first round of the 2025 MLB draft a little more than a week ago.
Now, the Philadelphia Phillies are his employer.
Wood, 21, became the first of the Phillies 2025 draft picks to sign a contract, which he did on Tuesday. A day later, he will hop a flight to Clearwater, Fla. and begin his professional baseball career.
But before he does, he got to spend a few days in Philly with the other 2025 Phillies draft picks.
It was more to experience the city and Citizens Bank Park, but Wood and some of the other draft picks were able to sneak in a game of catch on a strip of grass across the parking lot from their hotel near the airport.
But the highlight has been attending a sold out Phillies game.
Wood and his fellow draft mates took in the game against the Angels on Saturday, a game in which Kyle Schwarber hit a grand slam and Bryce Harper homered twice.
Gage Wood enjoyed how “bonkers” Citizens Bank Park went when Kyle Schwarber hit his grand slam. 💣
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/vpFQsPbadF
"It's awesome," he said. "The stadium is awesome. The fans are awesome. The environment is incredible. ... Getting to see that Schwarber grand slam was pretty special - especially the environment after that happened. One of the other guys was videoing it and I've been sharing it with all my friends. This place was going bonkers."
Maybe the fans will do the same for Wood after a big strikeout in the postseason.
There are some in the industry who believe the Phillies could fast track him to the major leagues as soon as this season. It would be lightning quick, but not unprecedented.
In 2020 the Chicago White Sox drafted Garrett Crochet 11th overall in the first round. He ended up throwing six innings in September for the Pale Hose, and then made an appearance in the playoffs.
Chicago also did the same with Chris Sale in 2010.
The Phillies may be considering it, but they won't say anything publicly.
"That's way too far down the road," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "I don't want to put expectations on a young man like that. He hasn't picked up a baseball yet in professional ball. So, we'll leave that for another day."
For now, Wood is just getting the lay of the land. He made his way around the ballpark, and got a tour of the Phillies clubhouse and facilities. He met several of the Phillies players. They all welcomed him with open arms and encouraged him to do his best to impress the organization and be a quick riser.
Thomson wouldn't talk about how quick, but was impressed with Wood when he met him.
Rob Thomson on his impressions of Gage Wood: “Looks like he’s been in the weight room.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/SGJsp2cfLB
"How strong he is," Thomson said. "He looks like he's very strong. It looks like he's bene in the weight room. He seems like a nice kid ... it's an exciting time for a young man to start his professional career."
Wood has mostly been a fastball-curveball pitcher. He gets the heater up to mid-to-upper 90s, and the curveball has some bite. He said he also has two other pitches he throws - a splitter and a cutter - but feels he needs to work on those more.
Wood's season at the University of Arkansas was interrupted by a right shoulder impingement. He came back for the College World Series and threw a 19-strikeout no-hitter against Murray St. The only baserunner he allowed was a hit batter.
"I think about it almost every day," Wood said - as if the 19-strike out no-no wasn't good enough.
But that's the kind of competitor he is. He craves clashes with hitters in big moments. He revels in it. The Phillies hope he can channel that and bring it to the Big Leagues sooner rather than later.
What does Gage Wood think of the narrative that he could be a quick riser that gets to the majors relatively quickly?
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/ZbprazSnHd
"I don't make that decision," Wood said. "I'm going to work as hard as I can to perform the best that I can. But we'll let the people in the front office make that decision."
