If you didn’t know the name Gage Wood before Sunday night, you do now.
The Arkansas right-hander delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances in College World Series history, no-hitting Murray State with a staggering 19 strikeouts in a 3–0 win. It was the first no-hitter in the CWS since 1959—and it didn’t feel like a fluke. It felt like a warning shot to the rest of the field, and to every MLB front office still finalizing their draft board.
Wood was already viewed as a potential first-round pick. Now? He might’ve just thrown himself into the top 15.
A Masterclass on the Biggest Stage
This wasn’t just power pitching—it was precision. Wood tossed 119 pitches, 83 of them for strikes. He generated 29 swings and misses, including a stretch of nine consecutive strikeouts between the third and fifth innings. He held a perfect game into the eighth before a hit-by-pitch broke it up, but not his rhythm.
What stood out even more than the stat line was how composed he looked. His fastball was still touching 97–98 mph deep into the ninth. He didn’t let the moment get too big—he controlled it.
In Omaha. Under the lights. With the country watching.
What It Means for His Draft Stock
Gage Wood was already in the conversation as a Day 1 guy, but this performance changes the tone of that conversation. Teams looking for an arm with upside, poise, and a proven ability to dominate will now have to decide if they’re willing to pass on someone who just made history.
There are always questions come draft time—how does stuff translate, is the body durable, can he pitch under pressure? Wood answered all of those in one outing.
He was a projected late first-rounder. After this? Top 20 feels likely. Top 10 isn’t off the table.
Beyond the Stats
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said after the game, “The dude was electric.” That about sums it up. He pitched like someone who knew he had more than just a game to win—he had a statement to make.
And he made it.
Whether or not Arkansas goes all the way, Gage Wood’s night will go down as one of the greatest single-game performances in CWS history. And for MLB teams drafting next month? This one won’t be easy to forget.