Eric Wood (baseball)

Eric Elliot Wood (born November 22, 1992) is a Canadian professional baseball third baseman who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Chinatrust Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

Eric Wood
Wood with the Altoona Curve in 2016
Free agent
Third baseman / Outfielder
Born: (1992-11-22) November 22, 1992
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bats: Right Throws: Right
CPBL debut
March 24, 2019, for the Chinatrust Brothers
CPBL statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.000
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams

Career

Wood attended Pickering High School in Ajax, Ontario, and Blinn College, in Brenham, Texas. The Oakland Athletics selected Wood in the 37th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign, and returned to Blinn for a second season.[1]

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Wood in the sixth round, with the 196th overall selection, of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft,[2] and he signed.

After signing, he made his professional debut that same season with the GCL Pirates. After batting .287/.371/.467 with four home runs and 24 RBIs, he was promoted to the State College Spikes at the end of the season. In six games for the Spikes, he batted .200. In 2013, he played for the West Virginia Power where he posted a .255 batting average with six home runs and 51 RBIs in 97 games, and in 2014, he played with the Bradenton Marauders where he slashed .271/.345/.393 with three home runs and 44 RBIs in 113 games. He played for the Altoona Curve in 2015 where he batted .237 with two home runs and 28 RBIs in 101 games, and returned there in 2016, compiling a .249 batting average with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs in 118 games.[3]

The Pirates invited Wood to spring training in 2017.[4] In 2017, he played for the Indianapolis Indians where he batted .238/.311/.438 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs in 120 games.[5] He began 2018 with the Indians and ended the year as a free agent.[6]

Chinatrust Brothers

On December 29, 2018, Wood signed a contract with the Chinatrust Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[7][8] However, just two games into the season, Wood was released by the Brothers on March 27, 2019.[9]

On March 24, 2019, Wood made his CPBL debut. It was rumored that his release could have resulted from an argument between himself and Brothers manager Scott Budner, who allegedly tried to physically fight Wood following a game on March 26.[10]

Return to Pittsburgh

On March 29, 2019, Wood signed a minor league deal to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[11]

Winnipeg Goldeyes

On March 23, 2020, Wood signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent American Association. Wood was released on August 31, 2020.

International career

Wood played for the Canada national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic,[1] 2019 Pan American Games Qualifier,[12] 2019 Pan American Games[13] and 2019 WBSC Premier12.[14]

References
  1. DurhamRegion.com. "Oshawa's Eric Wood making debut for Canada at World Baseball Classic".
  2. "Eric Wood the top Canadian selected in MLB draft". Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  3. "Curve third baseman Wood much improved – News, Sports, Jobs – Altoona Mirror". Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  4. "Pittsburgh Pirates extend non-roster invitations to top prospects Austin Meadows, Kevin Newman for Major League Spring Training – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  5. "Eric Wood Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  6. Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2018). "Minor League Free Agents 2018". Baseball America. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  7. "Chinatrust Brothers Sign Eric Wood (OF, 3B, 1B)". December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  8. "為提升球隊整體戰力　中信兄弟簽下多功能野手艾銳克". 中信兄弟官方網站 (in Chinese). December 29, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  9. "艾銳克遭解約　許基宏升上一軍". 中信兄弟官方網站 (in Chinese). March 27, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  10. "Brothers Release Bruce Kern, Eric Wood; Frictions with Manager". March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  11. Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  12. "Baseball Canada announces roster for Pan Am Games Qualifier". Baseball Canada. January 9, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  13. "2019 Pan Am Games Roster" (PDF). Baseball Canada. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  14. "Baseball Canada reveals 2019 WBSC Premier12® roster". Baseball Canada. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
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