Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Gage Wood completed arguably the greatest start in men’s College World Series history on Monday, throwing a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over Murray State.
How historic was Wood’s outing? And who exactly is the 2025 MLB Draft prospect, a relatively unknown player before his stunning performance?
Here are 10 things to know about Wood and one of the greatest pitching performances in CWS history.
Third MCWS no-hitter
Wood became just the third pitcher since the inaugural CWS in 1947 to throw a no-hitter at the championship tournament, joining Jim Ehler (1950 Texas) and Jim Wixson (1960 Oklahoma State). Over the years, future MLB greats including Roger Clemens (Texas), Mike Mussina (Stanford) and Paul Skenes (LSU) took the mound at the CWS, yet none were able o achieve what Wood did on Monday.
It was a singular performance that might never be replicated.
First no-hitter at Charles Schwab Field
Since opening in 2011, Charles Schwab Field, which is also the home of the Creighton Blue Jays, has crowned 13 men’s college baseball national champions. But until Monday, it had never seen a no-hitter.
Longest CWS perfect-game bid this century
Wood was close to making even more history. He was perfect through seven innings, retiring the first 21 batters he faced before hitting Murray State infielder Dom Decker with a pitch to start the eighth inning. Wood ended the game with six consecutive outs, including four strikeouts.
Per Arkansas Baseball, it was the longest perfect-game bid at the CWS since 1999, establishing a modern classic for future pitchers to aim toward.
Keeps Arkansas alive in 2025 MCWS
A 19-strikeout performance is incredible by itself. A 19-strikeout no-hitter is even more ridiculous. But a 19-strikeout no-hitter while facing elimination? Arkansas should go ahead and commission a Gage Wood statue.
Wood delivered his epic when the Razorbacks needed it most. They lost their CWS opener to SEC rival LSU on Saturday and would have been the latest national seed to crash out after No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Vanderbilt lost in the regionals.
Instead, Arkansas, which has the third-shortest odds (+360) to win the CWS, lived to play another game on Tuesday, against the loser of UCLA-LSU, scheduled for later Monday.
Wood has an elite fastball…
What stood out most from Wood’s historic performance was his fastball, which devastated several Murray State batters.
His heater has excellent velocity and rarely dips before reaching the catcher, forcing hitters to reach it high in the zone.
Per Baseball America, entering Monday, Wood’s fastball produced a 42 percent whiff rate, 32 percent chase rate and 29 percent in-zone mis rate.
Based on the following highlights, it’s easy to understand why.
Wood arguably got better as the game progressed, reaching 97 mph on the radar gun on his sixth-inning punch-out to end the frame.
His velocity never waned. Wood also hit 97 mph on his career-high 14th strikeout in the seventh inning, as well as the game’s final out to end the outing with an exclamation point.
Per ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Monaco, Murray State batters whiffed 25 times on 45 swings against Wood’s fastball, which was responsible for 13 of his 19 strikeouts.
…and is getting hot at the right time
Since the start of the regionals, Wood has a 1.99 earned run average in 18.1 innings, allowing four earned runs, six hits and two walks with 32 strikeouts while facing 64 batters.
In addition to his electric fastball, Wood’s off-speed pitches were just as sharp against Murray State. He notched his seventh consecutive strikeout in the bottom of the fifth inning with a curveball, which he also used to close out the eighth inning.
Missed two months earlier this season with a shoulder injury
A right shoulder injury shut Wood down after just two February starts, and he didn’t return until mid-April. In five appearances from April 18 through May 17, he posted a 7.44 ERA, allowing 17 hits at 24 strikeouts in 12.1 innings.
Wood’s injury appears to be fully behind him. It might have been the only thing holding him back.
Wood is an Arkansas native
Wood attended Batesville High School, 230 miles east of the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Per the Arkansas team website, he was Prep Baseball Report’s 2022 Arkansas Player of the Year and No. 3 overall prospect in the state out of high school.
Postseason has been redemption for Wood
The last two postseasons haven’t gone Wood’s way. Last season, Arkansas entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 national seed but was upset in the regionals by Southeast Missouri State.
Wood started the Razorbacks’ elimination game loss, allowing a first-inning home run and four earned runs altogether in three innings.
He came out of the bullpen during a 2023 elimination game against TCU and allowed four earned runs in 1.2 innings. Arkansas lost, 12-4.
No-hitter could solidify him as first-round 2025 MLB Draft prospect
Wood might have secured his place as a first-round pick in next month’s MLB Draft.
Per Baseball America, he ranked as the No. 94 overall draft prospect in its May 28 update, with the site praising his fastball and improved command.
“He cut his walk rate from 16.4% in 2023 to 4.5% in 2024,” Baseball America wrote.
With so much to like about Wood’s game, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s one of the first 30 names called when the draft’s first round commences on July 13.
