Gage Wood looks like he might be one of the best relievers in the nation.
The Arkansas sophomore was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award watch list on Wednesday. He had a 4.80 earned-run average with 42 strikeouts in 30 innings last year for the Diamond Hogs.
Wood was so good as a freshman, he was named to the All-SEC Freshman team due in large part to his holding of opponents to a .198 batting average.
The Batesville right-hander is likely to start the season as Arkansas’ closer, though coach Dave Van Horn largely went with a closer-by-committee approach last year. As a freshman, Wood recorded five saves, a mark only achieved by three other pitchers (Brady Tygart, Nolan Sanburn and DJ Baxendale) in Arkansas history.
The last Arkansas ace reliver was pitcher Kevin Kopps who not only won NCBWA Stopper of the Year in 2021, but also won the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy as the nation’s best overall player.
Arkansas is set to open its 2024 regular season against James Madison in a four-game set starting Friday at 2 p.m. from Baum-Walker Stadium.