The Los Angeles Dodgers have seen several quality arms emerge from their organization over the last 10-15 years. With a strong staff of pitching coaches, many have been able to turn their talents into solid careers.
In 2015, Mark Prior was announced as the new Dodgers pitching coach, and ever since then, there has been a notable turnaround in the careers of many players. A former Dodgers World Series Champion made a major career announcement on Friday.
Former Dodgers Pitcher Alex Wood Retires
Alex Wood, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2015 to 2018 and was named to his only All-Star game as a Dodger, retired from baseball this weekend.
Wood took to Instagram Friday evening to officially make the announcement:
“For over half my life, every decision I’ve made has centered around how it would impact my baseball career. I’ve given every ounce of myself in pursuit of my lifelong dream of becoming a big leaguer. Playing 12 years in the show, reaching seven postseasons, winning a World Series, and earning an All-Star selection — I never could’ve imagined it would turn out this way,” Wood wrote.
“Baseball was my first love. Outside of God and my family, nothing else has shaped me the way this game has. Even writing this, I can’t help but smile thinking about how much I still love the game after all this time.” Wood also thanked his teammates, coaches, former teams, family, and agents in a statement that readers can see in the post.
His career spanned parts of 12 years, and he had a very nice career.
Over five seasons with the Dodgers, Alex Wood had a 3.54 ERA in 76 starts and 416 strikeouts. He broke into the bigs with the Atlanta Braves but was traded to the Dodgers halfway through the 2015 season. Featuring a funky delivery from the southpaw side, Wood had his best season in 2017 with the Dodgers. Over 25 starts, he went 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA and 151 strikeouts.
Where Wood’s Career Went South
Following the 2018 season, Alex Wood started to get hit around way more frequently. He was a standout at the University of Georgia, the Braves selected him in the second round of the 2012 draft, and he swiftly made his way through their pipeline.
After leaving the Dodgers in 2018, he joined the Cincinnati Reds and posted a 5.80 ERA in 35 innings. He joined the Dodgers again in 2020, becoming a World Series Champion. His 2020 stint featured him more as a bullpen option, and even then, he had trouble staying on the field.
His last stop was the Athletics in 2024, where Wood posted a 5.26 ERA in 39.1 innings and nine starts.
All in all, Alex Wood posted a career 3.78 ERA in 1258 career innings with five different MLB organizations.
He decided to retire to pursue other activities, prioritize his family, and injuries also played a role in his decision. Despite the stints with other organizations, Wood will always be remembered as a Dodger. He dealt with a shoulder injury for most of last season, which likely made the decision easy for the 34-year-old southpaw.
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