Baseball season is right around the corner, and fans will start getting their first looks at some younger prospects and recently drafted players. Philadelphia Phillies fans specifically will be chomping at the bit to see their most recent first-rounder, Gage Wood, get into action in 2026, especially after he just missed making it onto MLB Pipeline's preseason Top 100 prospect rankings.
MLB Pipeline's Ben Weinrib included Wood, the 26th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, in his list of prospects who narrowly missed the cut but could be joining the Top 100 soon.
"[Wood] has the best shot to get there next because of his dominant stuff," Weinbrib notes. "Wood's repertoire includes one of the best fastballs in his class, thanks to 98 mph velocity and a flat approach angle, as well as a power curve and a gyro slider that could also wind up plus."
Gage Wood primed for big 2026 for Phillies after just missing MLB Pipeline's Top 100 rankings
After the Phillies grabbed the University of Arkansas product last summer, he immediately jumped into their Top 10 prospects rankings and currently sits at No. 4 by MLB Pipeline's measure. And that was without making his professional debut until early September.
It was an abbreviated start for Wood when he finally took the ball in Single-A Clearwater. After throwing bullpens and working in the pitching lab during the summer, the right-hander threw just two innings for the Threshers. Even though it was a short debut, it was electric, with Wood striking out five of the nine batters he faced.
Gage Wood, still stacking up strikeouts!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 6, 2025
After posting 13.9 K/9 during his @RazorbackBSB career, the @Phillies' 2025 first-round pick (No. 26 overall) records three K's in his first pro frame for the Single-A @Threshers. pic.twitter.com/10un4gnTTT
So, despite Wood's gaudy stuff, one question that is on everyone's mind heading into 2026 is how will the former college pitcher hold up under the stress of a full minor league season. The now 22-year-old was limited last year by a shoulder injury in the spring, throwing 37 2/3 regular season innings for the Razorbacks.
The Phillies want to see him as a starter, so it will likely be a slow build-up over the course of the year. Per Wienrib, "His value could skyrocket if he proves durable enough this season to cement his value as a long-term starter."
The Phillies' front office definitely believes in Wood's stuff and ability to become a starter.
“We like all four pitches. We think there’s the ability to develop even more than he has,” General manager Preston Mattingly said following the draft last summer, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. “Obviously he has an elite fastball. He showed that in college, the curveball as well. We still think the slider has significant room for improvement, and the changeup as well.”
Despite his limited innings, don't forget that he bounced back and tossed a no-hitter in the College World Series, in his final start for Arkansas. Wood has tons of potential and there's a real chance that he moves quickly through the system. Perhaps his year will culminate in his MLB debut later in 2026.