The Atlanta Braves' recent history is littered with dominant starting pitchers.
The trend began with Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine, and carried over to Max Fried, Spencer Strider, and Chris Sale. And the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft could provide the Braves with an opportunity to grab another star.
Atlanta's rotation might need reinforcements within the next few seasons. Sale is 36 and has a long injury history, while injuries have claimed Reynaldo López and AJ Smith-Shawver this season. With the 22nd-overall pick, it would make sense for the Braves to grab a college pitcher.
No collegiate baseball player has more name recognition this week than Gage Wood, the University of Arkansas standout who tossed a no-hitter against Murray State University at the College World Series on Monday, punching out 19 batters.
On Friday, top prospect evaluators Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com predicted that Wood would land with Atlanta on Jul. 13.
"The Braves are comfortable taking pitchers in the first round, and Wood is the hottest name after his historic 19-strikeout no-hitter in the College World Series," the authors wrote.
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Wood's overall season numbers were a mixed bag, but the gaudy strikeout totals are all a major league team needs to see. In 37 2/3 innings, he put up a 3.82 ERA, walked just seven batters, and struck out 69.
Because there are no trades in the MLB Draft, the Braves have to hope Wood falls to them if he's the top name on their board. But even with the buzz surrounding his name right now, Callis and Mayo seem to think that's fairly likely.
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