Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Wood was drafted by the
Anaheim Angels in the first round (23rd overall) of the
2003 amateur draft. He spent most of the 2005 season with the Angels' High-A
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes,
hitting .321 with a
California League record 43
home runs and 51
doubles. Wood received several awards for his performance in 2005. Amongst his accolades were: the
Joe Bauman Home Run Award, the California League and Single-A Offensive Player of the Year awards, player of the year by Minor League Baseball's official website, and co-player of the year of the Angels minor league system, alongside fellow prospect
Howie Kendrick. Wood was selected by the Angels to play on their
Arizona Fall League team, the
Surprise Scorpions, in October and early November 2005. He hit a league-record 14 home runs for the league runner-up. In mid-November 2005, he represented the United States on the U.S.
Olympic regional qualifying team. Prior to the 2006 season, Wood was ranked as the 3rd best prospect by
Baseball America, behind
Delmon Young and
Justin Upton. He had a solid, though not spectacular year, hitting .276 with 25 home runs and 19
stolen bases in 453
at-bats for the
Double-A Arkansas Travelers. Wood began 2007 as a top 10 prospect by Baseball America once more, holding the 8th spot overall. He changed positions however, as he slid over to third base for the other highly talented
shortstop Erick Aybar. This move was made in part to accelerate his track to the majors. Wood was called up to Angels' major league club on April 25, 2007, and made his major league debut at third base the following day against the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Prior to the call-up to the big club, Wood was batting .278 (22-for-79) with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 20 games with Salt Lake. Wood's first major league at-bat came against
Jae Seo. He
struck out swinging. He started his second game at third base for the Halos on April 29, picking up his first career base
hit off
Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks. After the game, he was optioned back to Triple-A Salt Lake. He was recalled to the Angels on May 2. On September 12, 2007, against the
Baltimore Orioles, he hit his first major league home run off
Danys Báez. in 2009In the 2009 offseason, third base appeared to open up for Wood as All-Star third baseman Chone Figgins signed a four-year deal with division rivals the
Seattle Mariners. Wood went into Spring training, preparing for a shot at the majors. "I'm going in to spring training to win a job", he said, "That keeps you on your toes. If you think that job is yours, you might get lazy. I've got to be ready to work, rather than sitting back and saying I paid my dues, I waited for my time." He cited first baseman
Kendrys Morales, who had just come off a breakout 2009 season, as a role model. The Angels' willingness to part with Figgins was in part because they had Wood waiting in Triple-A. Bill Shaikin reported, "The Angels also think that, as Wood improves his plate discipline and gains a better command of the strike zone, he will add a key power component to the lineup." Wood began the season in Triple-A, getting called up for a couple of games at the end of April before being sent down to Triple-A again. He hit .195 in just 18 games. Wood headed into the 2010 season with low optimism but ultimately began the season as the starting third baseman for the Angels. On June 27, 2010, Wood hit his first Major League grand slam off
Colorado Rockies reliever
Manny Corpas. He finished the season with a .146 batting average, including four home runs, in 226 official at-bats. On April 19, 2011, Wood was
designated for assignment by the Angels to accommodate
Erick Aybar's activation from the disabled list.
Pittsburgh Pirates Wood was claimed off waivers by the
Pittsburgh Pirates on April 22, 2011. In his April 25 debut for the Pirates, a home game against the
Washington Nationals, Wood hit a two-run double and was part of a four-run fourth inning that gave the Pirates a 4–2 win. Wood played in a career high 99 games, hitting 7 home runs with 31 RBI, but struggled to make sufficient contact, managing just a .220 average.
Colorado Rockies Wood signed a minor league contract with the
Colorado Rockies on November 17, 2011. He spent nearly all the season with the Triple-A
Colorado Springs Sky Sox, hitting 10 home runs with 64 RBI and a batting average of .259.
Kansas City Royals On November 16, 2012, the
Kansas City Royals confirmed they had signed Wood to a minor league contract. No financial terms of the deal were announced. In 48 games for the Triple-A
Norfolk Tides, he slashed .216/.250/.309 with two home runs and 23 RBI. Wood was released by the Orioles organization on July 26.
Sugar Land Skeeters On December 26, 2013, Wood signed a minor league contract with the
San Diego Padres organization. He was released prior to the start of the season on March 21, 2014. Wood then played for the
Sugar Land Skeeters of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an
independent baseball league. He batted .098 with one home run and five RBI in 25 games, and decided to retire. ==Personal life==