The Dodgers’ most recent transaction was to bring back a fairly long-tenured player in Alex Wood. Wood, 29, has recently been working with Driveline Baseball to increase spin efficiency and velocity. It appears to be working this off-season.
Wood posted a video recently showcasing a bullpen session and he looks fantastic:
Sneak peek. ST2020 can’t start soon enough. pic.twitter.com/C1bL4x18XH
— Alex Wood (@Awood45) January 21, 2020
The Dodgers traded Alex Wood to the Cincinnati Reds along with Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp last off-season and it wound up being the worst season of Wood’s career due to injury. Wood is a very solid pickup for the Dodgers considering his low price tag and track record. He is also a very welcome presence in the clubhouse as he is one of third baseman Justin Turner’s best friends.
Some of the other Dodgers’ players took notice of Wood’s bullpen session — among them, right-handed ace Walker Buehler:
YUP
— Walker Buehler (@buehlersdayoff) January 21, 2020
Best friend Justin Turner also got in on the action, questioning whether or not Wood incorporated a taste of Dick Mountain in his delivery:
You implement some Rich D Mountain Hill into your delivery??? Look at that leg kick hahah ?
— Justin Turner (@redturn2) January 21, 2020
Wood looking good is huge for the Dodgers. When the left-hander is at the top of his game, he is a number-three starter at least. His performance is typically dependent on his velocity and early reports are that he is in the 93-94 mile per hour range right now. If he can stay there over the course of the season, Wood could be a steal.
NEXT: Alex Wood Talks 2020 Season, 2017 Astros
