For the second year in a row, Travis Wood enters a three-man race for the last two spots in the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation. Wood is coming off an impressive rookie campaign and is preparing to take another step in becoming a solid pitcher.

Wood, the 24-year-old pitcher, seems to play with more experience than his age. His Major League debut was at Chicago in Wrigley Field where he threw seven innings of two-run baseball.

Coming off of this start, Wood picked up a lot of momentum including an outstanding outing in Philadelphia giving up just one hit in nine innings pitched. Travis seemed to have Ice in his veins and really picked up his performance against postseason contenders, including getting his first Major League Home Run in a much needed division win against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Adding three and one thirds innings pitched in game one of the NLDS in Philadelphia, Wood now knows what it takes to contribute to a winning Baseball team, and help the Reds compete for consecutive National League Central Division titles.

With impressive control and the ability to keep his team in close ball games, expect Wood to become a big part of the Reds 2011 rotation, perhaps even the Ace of the rotation in the near future.

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