Cubs RHP Kerry Wood retires after 13-plus seasons
Kerry Wood arrived in the majors 14 years ago, a fresh-faced kid with No. 34 on his back, slinging fastballs at 100 mph, delivering breaking pitches that were often unhittable and striking out 20 batters in just his fifth start.
On Friday, he left the game after one final, emotional appearance with the Chicago Cubs.
Fittingly, “Kid K” struck out the last batter he’ll face and retired at the age of 34, ending a career that was eye-popping at times but hampered by injuries.
“I had a blast. I wouldn’t trade it in. I learned from the injuries, I learned about my body and what it takes to compete and go out and play every day,” Wood said after his final game, a 3-2 loss to the White Sox.
Wood struck out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches, the last one a swing and a miss, in the eighth inning before he was replaced.
Wood hugged his young son as he reached the dugout, then lifted the boy into his arms.
Wood went on the disabled list this season with shoulder fatigue – he was on the DL more than a dozen times during his career – and had struggled all year.
Coming into the year, Wood was 86-73 with a 3.64 ERA and 63 saves. He left the Cubs as a free agent in December 2008, signing with the Cleveland Indians for two years and $20.5 million. He was traded to the Yankees in July 2010.
Wood returned to the Cubs in 2011, when he went 3-5 with a 3.35 ERA in 55 relief appearances before shutting it down because of a tear in his left knee that required arthroscopic surgery. In January, Wood agreed to play for the Cubs again for $3 million – double his 2011 pay – with a $3 million club option for 2013.
The Cubs’ No. 1 selection in the 1995 amateur draft was a 20-year-old rookie on May 6, 1998, when he struck out 20 batters in a one-hit, 2-0 win over Houston.
That tied Roger Clemens’ major league mark for strikeouts in a game and the two still remain the only major league pitchers to do it in a nine-inning game.
Clearing the bases
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and plate umpire Bob Davidson were both suspended from Friday’s action after their nose-to-nose argument during a game on Tuesday. … Royals pitchers Danny Duffy and Blake Wood are scheduled to have Tommy John surgery within the next two weeks. The 23-year-old Duffy had been the Royals’ best starter. He was pulled from his start against the White Sox last Sunday after just 13 pitches, and the torn ulnar collateral ligament was announced Monday. Wood hasn’t pitched this season. … Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be out three to four weeks. … Right-hander Brad Penny has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.