Arkansas is back in the College World Series, and a big reason why is Gage Wood.
The righty pitcher has an electric fastball that he put on full display against Murray State in Monday's elimination game. With the Razorbacks facing the possibility of going home, Wood dominated the Racers and put on one of the best pitching performances in recent College World Series history.
This is only Wood's introduction to the baseball world, as he could be making the jump to the next level in July. Here's what you need to know about Arkansas' ace.
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Who is Gage Wood?
Gage Wood is a junior pitcher from Batesville, Arkansas, who has played his entire, three-year collegiate career at the University of Arkansas. As a freshman, Wood served as a closer, and spent most of 2024 as a reliever before transitioning to starter for the full 2025 season.
MORE: Best MLB players from LSU ranked, from Paul Skenes and Alex Bregman to DJ LeMahieu
Gage Wood injury history
Wood dealt with a shoulder impingement after his second appearance of the 2025 season that cost him two months of action. While Wood missed time, the injury was a relief compared to the other options.
"It was a good result for us," Arkansas coach Van Horn said in February, via Whole Hog Sports. "It looks like he's got an impingement in there of some sort. He's just going to have to rehab it and get the swelling down. It looks like it's clean, so that's great news. It just may take a few weeks to get him right."
Gage Wood MLB draft
Wood is the 50th-ranked player on MLB Pipelines' 2025 draft prospects list. His best pitch is his fastball, which the report describes as one of the best in the draft and which is why he successfully worked as a reliever in the start of his career.
Wood has a curveball, slider and changeup, with the curveball being his main secondary pitch. His secondary pitches are ok but do not stack up to the power of his fastball. Regardless, Wood has become a strikeout machine for the Razorbacks.
Additionally, Wood has dealt with control issues at times, but it has improved over the course of his career. He has a chance to make it at the next level as either a starter or reliever, depending on how he develops.
TSN's Dan Treacy has Wood as a first-round player in his latest mock draft, going No. 27 to the Guardians.
Gage Wood no-hitter
Wood's breakout game came in the College World Series against Murray State, when he threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 batters in an elimination game. He became the first player since 1960 to throw a no-hitter in the College World Series, and set strikeout records in the process.
Additionally, Wood came just a hit-by-pitch in the eighth inning short of throwing the first perfect game in College World Series history. Instead, he becomes the third player ever to throw a no-hitter in a College World Series game.
MORE: Full list of no-hitters in College World Series history
Most strikeouts in a CWS game
Wood struck out 19 players against Murray State, which is the highest total in a nine-inning College World Series history. Previously, the most strikeouts in a nine-inning College World Series game was 17, which happened in both 1972 and 2023.
Gage Wood stats
Wood's numbers don't scream top prospect, but that doesn't mean he isn't a huge talent. Here's a look at how Wood has performed in his three college seasons.
| Year | Games | Record | ERA | Innings pitched | Strikeouts | Saves |
| 2023 | 23 | 2-0 | 4.80 | 30.0 | 42 | 5 |
| 2024 | 22 | 3-2 | 4.46 | 40.1 | 56 | 2 |
| 2025 | 10 | 4-1 | 3.82 | 37.2 | 69 | 0 |