Angels infielder Brandon Wood will probably play winter ball

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Brandon Wood, who has one at-bat in 22 games entering Friday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, will get a chance to play every day again. But that opportunity may not come until this winter, and it will most likely be in the Dominican Republic.

Manager Mike Scioscia had a lengthy closed-door meeting with the demoted infielder Friday afternoon, and among the topics discussed was the team’s desire for Wood, who is batting .167 with 52 strikeouts and four walks in 174 at-bats, to play winter ball.

Wood’s last two winter-ball experiences ended badly. He was cut from his team in the Dominican in November 2008 after hitting .167 in 13 games, and his Mexican League team released him in 2007 after Wood hit .152 in nine games.

Wood, buried on the bench since the Angels traded for third baseman Alberto Callaspo on July 22, declined to discuss his meeting with Scioscia, but he appears open to the idea of playing winter ball, where the Angels hope he can regain the confidence and stroke that made him their top position-playing prospect for years.

‘I think he will play’ winter ball, Scioscia said. ‘I think it’s important for him to play. He needs to play baseball and to take his swing into games, and he can accomplish that anywhere.’

--Mike DiGiovanna