LA Dodgers honor Alex Wood during his retirement declaration
Alex Wood Retires from Major League Baseball After 12-Year Career
Alex Wood, the former left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, announced his retirement from Major League Baseball (MLB) on Friday. The news came via an Instagram post, where Wood expressed immense gratitude for his baseball career.
Wood's 12-season MLB career was marked by a 77-68 win-loss record, a 3.78 earned run average (ERA), and 1,173 strikeouts in 1,258 innings over 278 games (211 starts). His most notable accomplishments include being an All-Star selection in 2017, when he posted a 16-3 record with a 2.72 ERA for the Dodgers, and winning a World Series championship with the Dodgers in 2020.
Born and raised in Georgia, Wood was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2013, before being traded to the Dodgers in 2015 in a three-team deal. Wood returned to the Dodgers in 2020, making four postseason appearances, including starting Game 6 of the World Series, as Los Angeles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 to clinch its first championship in 32 years.
Wood also played for the Cincinnati Reds (2019), San Francisco Giants (2021-23), and Oakland Athletics (2024). His final season saw a 1-3 record with a 5.26 ERA over nine starts for the Athletics, before shoulder surgery ended his season.
Outside of God and his family, baseball shaped Wood the most. He was known for his competitive spirit and ability to get out of difficult situations on the mound, earning fan admiration throughout his career. His career was also marked by leadership and experience, particularly during his last MLB years.
Wood still loves the game of baseball, but has decided to hang up his cleats and move on to the next chapter of his life. He expressed deep gratitude for baseball’s impact on his life and looked forward to what the future holds.
Throughout his career, Wood compiled a 77-68 record with a 3.78 ERA, played in 7 postseasons, and earned more than $62 million in salary. He helped the Dodgers secure their first pennant since 1988 in the 2017 postseason and won a World Series championship in 2020.
Wood's best season was in 2017, where he finished 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a top-10 finish in NL Cy Young voting. His career will be remembered as one filled with determination, grit, and a love for the game.
References:
- ESPN
- MLB.com
- Baseball-Reference.com
- Fangraphs
- Sports Reference
In the announcement of his retirement, Alex Wood, a former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher renowned for his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, mentioned his participation in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, one of the teams he later played for before rejoining the Dodgers. During his time in the MLB, Wood showcased his pitching skills in not just the Dodgers, but also the Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland Athletics. In 2017, as a Dodger, he achieved an All-Star selection and a top-10 finish in NL Cy Young voting, indicating remarkable performance in that baseball draft year.
