Change in the Woods

Wood watches his two-run double Monday night.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim made a tough decision last week by deciding to part ways with their former top prospect, Brandon Wood.

The Angels designated Wood for assignment last Tuesday to make room for shortstop Erik Aybar, who was coming off the disabled list. Days later the last place Pittsburgh Pirates decided to take a chance on the 26-year-old infielder, claiming him off waivers.

The decision by Pittsburgh could prove to be a good one.

It was apparent that the Angels could no longer wait on the development of Wood as an everyday Major Leaguer. The change of scenery could help Wood become a serviceable Major League player in the Steel City.

Wood was named the 2005 Minor League Player of the Year, where he slugged 43 home runs and drove in 115 runs at A-Rancho Cucamonga. Along with that success came extreme high expectations for the Texas native -- expectations he never quiet lived up to.

Los Angeles gave the third baseman job to Wood at the start of 2010 season after Chone Figgins signed a five-year deal that offseason with the division rival Seattle Mariners. It was supposedly Wood's time to shine in Anaheim. Wood never got comfortable and finished the season batting a dismal .146. Wood's career average in the big leagues is not much better, batting just .169 in 468 at-bats. Those number don't give the Pirates any reason to believe the move to Pittsburgh will be any different.

Don't count Wood out just yet.

Wood is heading to the Pirates with not many expectations, unlike when he was coming up through the Angels' system. With the Pirates also being in the cellar of the National League Central most of the past two decades there is not a lot of media attention, finding himself in a spot where he can finally start over and try to establish a solid Major League career.

Wood has often drawn the comparison to Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt. Schmidt was a .197 career hitter after his first 400 at-bats in the Major Leagues, but went on to hit 548 career home runs and a three-time NL Most Valuable Player Award recipient.

By no means is Wood the next Mike Schmidt, but history shows success can be achieved after such a slow start. The change of scenery is exactly what Wood needs to succeed at the big league level.

Wood made his Pirate debut Monday night in Washington, going 1-for-4 with a two-run double in the team's 4-2 victory over the Nationals. Even though it's only one game, it's a step in the right direction for the former first-round pick.

If Wood does not succeed this time around, he might need to be looking for another job soon. The third baseman will need to go back to what got him to the big leagues in the first place, hitting with good wood.