Braves pitcher Alex Wood aims to shine in starting rotation

Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, center, talks with starting pitcher Alex Wood during the second inning of a spring training exhibition baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Wednesday, March 11, 2015. - photo by Carlos Osorio

0403BravesWood — Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, center, talks with starting pitcher Alex Wood during the second inning of a spring training exhibition baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Wednesday, March 11, 2015. - photo by Carlos Osorio

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Alex Wood's breakout campaign with the Atlanta Braves last season may have come as a surprise to some people. The hard-throwing lefty, however, wasn't one of them. Between stints in the bullpen and starting rotation during his second big-league season, the 24-year-old Wood emerged as a blossoming star for the rebuilding Braves, going 11-11 with a 2.78 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 35 games.

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