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Gage Wood Touches 99 MPH in Strong Double‑A Home Debut

Phillies evaluators are watching closely after he paired an upper‑90s fastball with a newly developed slider in a walk‑free, efficient outing.

Overview

  • Wood worked four innings in his Double‑A home start, allowing one earned run, three hits, striking out four and issuing zero walks on 50 pitches.
  • His four‑seam fastball averaged 96–97 mph and topped out at 99 mph, with velocity climbing as the outing progressed.
  • Wood said he added a slider in the offseason and used a full pitch mix that included changeup and curveball while showing improved feel for the new breaking pitch.
  • The 2025 first‑round pick rose quickly through the system after a strong Low‑A showing, skipping High‑A to reach Double‑A, and Phillies executives watched his recent start in person.
  • With Philadelphia short on proven starting depth, the club sees Wood as a developing option for the big‑league staff and his workload, command and secondary pitches will determine whether he fits as a bullpen arm or rotation depth later this season.