LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Alex Wood bounced between the minors and majors a couple of times as a Braves rookie, and then from Atlanta's bullpen to its starting rotation last summer and back to the 'pen during the September playoff race.
So he knows how quickly things can change and that he shouldn’t assume anything at this stage of his career, even after he went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in five August starts.
That’s the attitude the former University of Georgia left-hander took into his rigorous offseason regimen, and also how he’s approaching his second big-league spring training. The Braves haven’t told the kid with the live arm and funky delivery whether he is more likely to begin the season as a starter or reliever.
“I wasn’t really sure at the beginning what to expect in terms of role and all that, so I just went up there and tried to control things I could control,” said Wood, who worked out all winter with Freddie Freeman, Dan Uggla, Kris Medlen and other Atlanta-area major leaguers at highly regarded trainer Ryan Goldin’s G.A.T.A. gym in Duluth.
“I worked as hard as I could, to come in with a chip on my shoulder and try to win a job. I’m excited to get started.”
As long as Brandon Beachy is healthy, the Braves will have only one opening in the rotation to start the season, and they have Gavin Floyd expected to come off the disabled list and take a rotation spot as soon as May after completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
Wood and veteran Freddy Garcia are leading candidates for the open rotation spot to begin the season, and either could be used in the rotation or bullpen. The Braves only have one lefty reliever, Luis Avilan, until Jonny Venters returns from the disabled list, mostly likely in late May or June after completing rehab from a second TJ surgery.
If they used Wood in the bullpen as a second lefty to begin the season, the Braves could better monitor his innings. He totaled 143 innings last season in the majors and minors, including two divison-series relief appearances.
(Full version of this story can be found on MyAJC.com.)
