As Spring Training rolls along and the Braves solidify their roster, there will be players destined for minor league ball that turn heads. Maybe they aren't quite ready to break camp with the big club, but their time is near.
William Woods seems like one of those prospects, especially after he struck out all three batters he faced on Wednesday in Atlanta's 5-3 loss to the Red Sox. If that's not impressive enough, he only needed nine pitches to strike out the side.
“He’s impressing me, I’m gonna tell you that,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “The first side I saw the kid throw, I’ve been excited about watching him pitch. I kind of feel like there’s more in there once he gets established."
A non-roster invitee, Woods was taken in the 23rd round of the 2018 draft by the Braves. In 51 innings of work in 2019 at Single-A Rome he fanned 58 batters. He's only pitched in 30 professional games, but he's already being whispered about as a potential bullpen weapon in Atlanta. The question is when.
Multiple reports from Florida have Woods throwing a 99 MPH fastball and mixing it with nasty secondary pitches.
“I looked at his numbers because he’s an intriguing kid," said Snitker. "The first time I saw the delivery in a side, and how the ball was coming out. The slider probably wasn’t that great today like it’s been, but you know I say, I just look at his delivery and think there’s more in there.”
Two comments from Snitker's report on Woods' outing piqued interest. He struck out three batters on nine pitches with a slider "that wasn't great," and the Braves manager thinks "there's more in there."