Brandon Wood

Infobox MLB player

---

width = 225
name=Brandon Wood
positionplain=Third Baseman / Shortstop
team=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
number=3
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1985|3|2
birthplace=city-state|Austin|Texas
debutdate=April 26
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
statyear=September 4, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.163
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=2
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=7
teams=
*Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (by|2007-present)

Richard Brandon Wood (born March 2, 1985 in Austin, Texas) is an Major League Baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He bats and throws right-handed. Though relatively unknown before the by|2005 season, Wood compiled statistics that season that were considered by some to be the greatest offensive season in the minor leagues.

Minor League career

2003-2005

He spent most of the 2005 season with advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, hitting .321 with a California League record 43 home runs and 51 doubles. Combined with two doubles and a triple in four games with the Triple-A Salt Lake Stingers, Brandon Wood became the first known minor leaguer to hit more than 100 extra-base hits in one year.

Wood received several awards for his performance in 2005. Amongst his accolades were: 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. [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/awards_2005.jsp]

Brandon 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.

Brandon was featured in the "Big Surprise" article on page 136 in the December 5, 2005 issue of ESPN Magazine

2006

Prior to the by|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.

2007

Brandon began by|2007 as a top 10 prospect by Baseball America once more, holding the 8th spot overall. [http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/263445.html] 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. Fact|date=September 2007

Major League career

Wood was called up to Angels major league club on April 25 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 RBI 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, mlby|2007, against the Baltimore Orioles, he hit his first major league home run off Danys Baez.

External links