Barely more than a year after pitching a no-hitter in the College World Series, former Arkansas Razorback and Batesville standout pitcher Gage Wood is two steps away from big leagues.

Wood, a 2022 graduate of Batesville High School, is currently pitching for the Reading (Pennsylvania) Fight Phils, the Double A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Wood pitched three years for the Razorbacks, helping them to two College World Series appearances, with the highlight being a no-hitter against Murray State on June 16, 2025. He faced one batter over the minimum, hitting a Murray State batter late in the game.

“We just didn’t want to go home,” Wood said, during a media conference Wednesday, referring to Arkansas playing an elimination game. “I knew there was a chance we would have gone home, but we didn’t.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to wear any other jersey that day for that experience and that moment.”

Wood was selected in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Phillies. He pitched in one game of rookie ball last year. He started this season in Single-A Clearwater, Florida. He started eight games there, pitching only 26 1/3 innings. However, he had a 3.43 ERA with 59 strikeouts.

Wood was promoted to Double-A Reading on May 18. He’s made four starts, throwing 14 innings with 19 strikeouts. He was the Phillies’ minor league pitcher of the month for April.

Wood said he wasn’t sure what management is thinking with his pitch count, averaging only 3 1/2 innings per start.

“It’s not something I need to be worried about,” he said. “I just need to go out there and throw the ball until they take the ball out of my hand each game that I go out there for a start and let everything else take care of itself.”

Wood pitched in only 10 games during his last year at Arkansas. He was limited because of a shoulder injury.

“From my side, it sucks sometimes,” he said, referring short starts. “Then again, you’ve got to look at the bigger picture. I threw 37 innings last year due to a shoulder injury. Early on, how smart would it be to come out and throw 150 innings this year as a start. It’s not very smart. So, I’m trusting them with that. They’ve been doing a really good job. I feel like I’m in a great spot right now, and I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing and let everything else take care of itself.”

Wood spoke highly of Arkansas Razorbacks pitching coach Matt Hobbs.

“Coach Hobbs is great,” Wood said. “He’s one of the biggest reasons I was an Arkansas Razorback for my whole college career. He’s the reason I am where I am today. It has a lot to do with him, the way he believed in me from the first time I got on campus. He probably believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself as much. I couldn’t ask for anything better. He’ll always be in my corner, and I will always stay in touch with him.”

Wood said he and current Razorback pitcher Mark Brissey are good friends. Brissey pitched for the Pioneers through his junior season before transferring to Fayetteville for his senior year.

“I talk to Mark a lot,” Wood said. “I talk to his family a lot. I’m excited for him. I want him to go out there and do what I know he is capable of doing. I really hope he takes that next step out there after this freshman season.”