Mike Wood (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Michael Burton Wood is a former professional baseball
pitcher
. He has played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball
, and one in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Wood graduated from Forest Hill Community High School in West Palm Beach, Florida
, in 1998 and then went on to attend the University of North Florida
. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics
in 10th Round (311st overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Wood made his major league debut on August 21, 2003, with the Athletics. The Kansas City Royals
acquired Wood on June 24, 2004, from the Athletics as part of the three-team trade that sent Carlos Beltrán
to the Houston Astros
. Kansas City immediately promoted him from Triple-A and put him in their starting rotation, where he compiled a 3-8 record with a 5.94 ERA in 17 starts.
Wood spent the early part of the 2005 season in the bullpen
, but was used as an emergency starter when Brian Anderson
went on the 15-day disabled list
.
On October 11, 2006, Wood was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers
, but was not tendered a contract for the 2007 season, making him a free agent. He was then signed to a minor league contract (with an invitation to spring training
) with the Rangers later in the offseason, and made the 2007 opening day roster.
In 2008, Wood played for the Yokohama BayStars
in Japan
's Nippon Professional Baseball. In January 2009, he signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins. In May 2009, the Marlins released Wood. On September 1, Wood signed a Minor League contract with the Texas Rangers
. He was granted free agency on November 9. He played for the Rockford RiverHawks
in the Northern League in 2010.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe 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 a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He has played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, and one in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Wood graduated from Forest Hill Community High School in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, in 1998 and then went on to attend the University of North Florida
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s...
. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in 10th Round (311st overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
.
Wood made his major league debut on August 21, 2003, with the Athletics. The Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
acquired Wood on June 24, 2004, from the Athletics as part of the three-team trade that sent Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán is a Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:In his youth, Beltrán excelled in many sports, with volleyball and baseball being his favorites. At his father's urging, he gave up volleyball to concentrate on baseball when he was seventeen...
to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. Kansas City immediately promoted him from Triple-A and put him in their starting rotation, where he compiled a 3-8 record with a 5.94 ERA in 17 starts.
Wood spent the early part of the 2005 season in the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
, but was used as an emergency starter when Brian Anderson
Brian Anderson (pitcher)
Brian James Anderson is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher, who played 13 season for five teams, as well as a sports broadcaster and coach. Currently, Anderson is the color commentator on the Rays TV crew on Sun Sports....
went on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
On October 11, 2006, Wood was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, but was not tendered a contract for the 2007 season, making him a free agent. He was then signed to a minor league contract (with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
) with the Rangers later in the offseason, and made the 2007 opening day roster.
In 2008, Wood played for the Yokohama BayStars
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Nippon Professional Baseball. In January 2009, he signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins. In May 2009, the Marlins released Wood. On September 1, Wood signed a Minor League contract with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He was granted free agency on November 9. He played for the Rockford RiverHawks
Rockford RiverHawks
The Rockford RiverHawks are a professional baseball team based in the Rockford, Illinois suburb of Loves Park, in the United States. Currently, the RiverHawks are a member of the Frontier League, which they previously played in from 2002 until 2009. From the 2002 season to 2005, the RiverHawks'...
in the Northern League in 2010.