Alex Wood (baseball)
A crafty left-handed pitcher whose deceptive delivery and sharp slider made him a key, if understated, piece for a World Series-contending Dodgers team.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American baseball player·Birthday: January 12·Millennials
Biography
Alex Wood's baseball career was defined by adaptability and a signature pitching motion that baffled hitters. Drafted by the Atlanta Braves out of the University of Georgia, his unorthodox, three-quarters arm slot and sweeping slider quickly got him to the majors. His breakout, however, came after a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015. There, he became a vital and versatile arm in a star-studded rotation, capable of brilliance as both a starter and a reliever. His finest season was 2017, when he started the All-Star Game and posted a stunning 16-3 record, embodying the Dodgers' dominance that year. Injuries later challenged his consistency, leading him to journey through several clubs, but his intelligence on the mound and his role in the Dodgers' perennial postseason runs cemented his reputation as a pitcher who maximized every ounce of his talent.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alex was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was named a National League All-Star in 2017 and was the starting pitcher for the NL in that year's Midsummer Classic.
- Finished the 2017 regular season with a 16-3 record and a 2.72 ERA over 25 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Pitched in multiple postseasons for the Dodgers, including the 2017 and 2018 World Series.
Did You Know?
He is one of the few MLB pitchers in the modern era to throw from a true three-quarters, or 'low three-quarters', arm slot.
He played college baseball at the University of Georgia, where he was also a teammate of current MLB player Kyle Farmer.
He was traded from the Braves to the Dodgers in a massive three-team deal that also involved the Miami Marlins.
“My job is to get outs, and I'll use any angle to do it.”
