The Phillies had a front-row seat to their future on July 12, and Gage Wood was right in the middle of it.
With Citizens Bank Park set to host the 2026 MLB All-Star Game festivities, the spotlight has been building all week in Philadelphia. The big-league names get their turn on July 13 for the home run derby, which includes Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, before the 2026 MLB All-Star Game arrives on July 14. But first came the kids, and the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game gave the game’s top prospects a chance to take center stage in a seven-inning showcase.
Wood, the Phillies’ fast-rising pitching prospect, got the start for the National League team. The 2025 first-round pick, selected No. 26 overall out of the University of Arkansas, has climbed quickly on the strength of dominant outings on the mound, and that rise earned him the ball in the ballpark he may soon call home.
His first inning wasn’t the cleanest one scouts have seen from him. Athletics prospect Leo De Vries, the No. 2-ranked player in the sport, opened with a single. De Vries then swiped second and third before scoring on a groundout from Boston Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias, who is No. 7 in the MLB, giving the American League a 1-0 lead.
Wood did settle in after that. He retired Cleveland Guardians first baseman Ralphy Velazquez and Minnesota Twins outfielder Walker Jenkins to finish the inning after the early damage.
A run allowed in that setting won’t be what Wood wanted, but the bigger picture still looks strong. He started the 2026 season at Single-A Clearwater, where he made eight starts and logged 26.1 innings before moving up to Double-A Reading. He was named Minor League Pitcher of the Month in April after dominating early with Clearwater.
The move to Reading hasn’t slowed him down much. Across both stops, Wood has posted a 3.45 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 28.2 innings. At Clearwater, he had a 3.42 ERA and 40 strikeouts, and the jump in competition has barely moved the needle on his run prevention.
He has allowed more hits since the promotion, though, giving up 24 hits and six home runs at Reading compared with 17 hits and two long balls in Single-A. Even so, the overall line still points to a pitcher moving fast.
That’s why the future still looks so bright for Wood, who could also be an option out of the bullpen for the big-league club down the stretch given his strong college track record as a reliever.
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