Kerry Wood | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Irving, Texas, U.S. | June 16, 1977|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 12, 1998, for the Chicago Cubs | |
Last MLB appearance | |
May 18, 2012, for the Chicago Cubs | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 86–75 |
Earned run average | 3.67 |
Strikeouts | 1,582 |
Saves | 63 |
Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Kerry Lee Wood (born June 16,1977) is an American former baseball pitcher who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Cleveland Indians,and New York Yankees. Wood first came to prominence as a 20-year-old rookie,when he recorded 20 strikeouts in a one-hit shutout against the Houston Astros,which some have argued may be the greatest single-game pitching performance in MLB history. [1] [2] [3] The game also made Wood the co-holder of the MLB record for strikeouts in a single game (20) and earned Wood the nickname "Kid K". He was later named the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year.
Wood went on to record over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons,with a high of 266 in 2003. He holds several MLB strikeout records. Though he struggled with injuries throughout his career,Wood was twice named an All-Star. Wood transitioned to a relief pitcher in 2007 due to continued struggles with injuries,ultimately reviving his career as a closer. During his career,Wood was placed on the disabled list 14 times in 14 major league seasons,which included missing the entire 1999 season due to Tommy John surgery. After a slow start to the 2012 season,Wood retired on May 18,2012.
Wood attended MacArthur High School in Irving,Texas,for his first three seasons of high-school baseball. He continued his education at Grand Prairie High School for his final season as a high-school player. As a senior,Wood went 14-0 with a 0.77 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 81 innings,and was named All-American and Texas 5A Player of the Year. [4] [5] Wood was high-school teammates with Kevin Walker. [6] He initially committed to play college baseball at McLennan Community College in Waco. [7]
The Chicago Cubs drafted Wood as the fourth overall selection in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft. [8] [9] Two days after being drafted,he started both ends of a doubleheader in the Texas state playoffs,throwing 175 pitches between the two games;the Cubs were outraged. [4] He split his first professional season between the GCL Cubs and the Williamsport Cubs of the New York-Penn League. [10]
Ranked as the 16th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America in 1996,he pitched to a 2.91 ERA with 136 strikeouts in 22 starts for the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League. [11] [12] He was also considered the top prospect in the league and the Cubs organization. [13] In 1997,Baseball America ranked Wood as the third best player in the game,behind only Andruw Jones and Vladimir Guerrero. [14] He played for the Orlando Rays in Double-A and the Iowa Cubs in Triple-A. Wood also began the 1998 season in the minors,striking out 11 batters in a single five-inning start. [10]
Wood made his first appearance in the major leagues on April 12,1998. [15] In his fifth career start,on May 6,he threw a one-hit,no-walk,20-strikeout shutout against the Houston Astros in Wrigley Field,tying Roger Clemens's record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game and breaking Bill Gullickson's single-game rookie record of 18 strikeouts in 1980. Wood allowed only two baserunners:Ricky Gutiérrez on an infield single and Craig Biggio,who was hit by a pitch with a count of one ball and two strikes. (Biggio had led the league in that category each of the previous three years and is second all-time in hit-by-pitches with 285.) Only seven balls reached fair territory. The Astros went on to lead the league in on-base percentage,and all of the regulars were in the lineup,including the four who finished the season batting over .300,went hitless. The performance garnered a game score of 105 –the highest number ever calculated for a pitcher in a nine-inning game. [16] [17]
Wood finished the 1998 season with a 13–6 record;despite missing the last month of the season with elbow soreness,he easily won the National League Rookie of the Year award. [5] He pitched one game in the playoffs,losing against the Atlanta Braves. [18]
During spring training of 1999,he tore his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Wood underwent successful Tommy John surgery to repair damage to the UCL in his right elbow,and missed the entire 1999 season. Wood returned in 2000 and had an 8–7 record,but the following season,he returned to form. In 2001,Wood went 12–6 with a 3.36 ERA. He recorded a one-hit,14-strikeout complete-game shutout on May 25,2001. [19] On August 3,2001,he struck out nine batters and gave up only one run over eight innings to defeat Chan Ho Park and the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 [20] to extend the Cubs' lead in National League Central to 3.5 games. The following season,Wood finished 12–11 with a 3.67 ERA,and did not miss a start all year long,setting career highs with 213.6 innings pitched and 33 starts. He had 217 strikeouts in both seasons. [18]
In 2003,Wood set career highs with 266 strikeouts,14 wins (as part of a 14–11 record),a 3.20 ERA,and two shutouts. He threw the fastest fastball in the majors among starters,averaging 95.4 miles per hour. [21] He also walked 100 batters and surrendered 24 home runs,also career highs,but was selected as a National League All-Star and helped lead the Cubs to the playoffs as one half of "Chicago Heat" along with fellow pitcher Mark Prior. [18]
Wood earned two wins in the Divisional Series against the Atlanta Braves and was the starter in Game 3 of the 2003 National League Championship Series,which the Cubs won in extra innings. However,the Cubs lost in seven games to the eventual World Series champion Florida Marlins. In the decisive Game 7,Wood hit the first home run by a pitcher in an NLCS game since another Cub,Rick Sutcliffe,did so in Game 1 in 1984. However,the Marlins won the game 9-6. Wood was the losing pitcher and the Cubs were eliminated. [18]
Wood went 8-9 during the 2004 season and was sidelined for nearly two months with a strained triceps. [18] In 2005,Wood continued to struggle. On August 31,2005,Wood underwent surgery and missed the remainder of the season. During spring training in 2006,Wood suffered several injuries that required an additional surgery (on his knee). On May 18,2006,Wood returned to the Cubs' pitching rotation when he started and lost a home game against the Washington Nationals. In June,Wood returned to the disabled list (DL) with a sore shoulder. The following month,the Cubs announced that Wood had sustained a partially torn rotator cuff,which was likely to keep him from pitching again for the rest of the year. At the end of the 2006 season,the Cubs exercised their option on Wood's contract and bought out the remaining $13M. [22]
With his long history of injuries and inability to stay in the starting rotation,Wood accepted the Cubs' offer to return as a relief pitcher in 2007. Wood attempted to sustain a regular throwing schedule and appearances during spring training games. Wood was placed on the 15-day DL,though,with soreness in his elbow,and was then moved to the 60-day DL. Wood considered retiring if he continued to have pain in his throwing arm. [23] He began playing catch on May 21. In his first rehabilitation assignment in Cubs Rookie Ball,he struck out all three batters he faced. On July 24,he pitched an inning with the Single-A Peoria Chiefs,throwing 9 pitches. He made back-to-back appearances on July 26 and July 27,throwing his fastball between 92 and 94 mph with no discomfort. [24]
The Cubs activated Wood from the 60-day DL on August 3,causing many to believe that he would make his actual return on that day. [25] In the seventh inning,however,Lou Piniella opted to send Bob Howry to the mound,and most fans,eager to see Kerry back on the hill,mistakenly gave Howry a standing ovation,only to realize moments later he was actually not Wood. [26] Piniella later stated he wanted Wood to receive a "softer landing",or in other words,make his return in a game where the Cubs have a comfortable lead over their opponents. [27] Wood made his return on August 5,with the Cubs trailing the New York Mets by four runs. [28] He pitched a single inning,during which he allowed one hit and struck out another batter. [28] Piniella praised Wood's performance,stating,"He threw the ball real good",and "His breaking ball had some bite to it,and he threw it up there about 93–94,about what we expected". [29] He remained healthy appearing in 22 games and posting a 1–1 record with a solid 3.33 ERA. [18]
Wood was generally limited to one inning per outing,not appearing in games on back-to-back days,though he did pitch in both halves of a doubleheader on September 15. Wood was a major contributor to the Cubs' NL Central Division Championship down the stretch in late September,earning a win and eight holds. Wood filed for free agency on November 11,2007,though he suggested that he wanted to remain in pinstripes for the 2008 season. Despite multiyear offers from other teams,Wood agreed to a one-year,$4.2 million deal with the Cubs. [30]
Wood,along with Bob Howry and Carlos Mármol,competed for the role as the Cubs' closer after Ryan Dempster was moved to the starting rotation. [30] After posting a 2.84 ERA in the spring,Wood won the job. He recorded his first career save April 3,2008,with a win over the Brewers. [31] [32] Wood recorded 34 saves in 39 opportunities,82 strike-outs,and a 1.12 WHIP. He was selected to the 2008 MLB All-Star Game as a relief pitcher on July 6,2008,along with six other teammates. [33]
Wood was placed on the 15-day DL on July 24,2008,with a blister on his right index finger. [34]
On November 13,2008,after acquiring closer Kevin Gregg from the Florida Marlins,Cubs general manager Jim Hendry announced that the organization did not plan to re-sign Wood. [35] He had previously requested a multiyear contract with the team,but was deferred due to financial reasons. Wood stated he wished to remain with the Cubs,but also wanted to continue playing baseball. [36]
On December 13,2008,Wood signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Indians. [37]
Cubs fans showed their appreciation for him by giving him a standing ovation when the Indians played at Wrigley Field on June 19,2009. [38] During the 2010 season,Wood was placed on the disabled list until May 8 due to an upper back muscle strain. [39] On July 17,2010,Wood was placed on the disabled list for the 14th time in his major league career,this time due to a blister on his right index finger. [39]
Wood was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees on July 31,2010,for Andrew Shive,Matt Cusick,and cash. [40] With the Yankees,he went 2–0 with a 0.69 ERA in 24 games,including 21 straight scoreless appearances,and served as the bridge to Mariano Rivera in the 2010 postseason. [23] [41] During the 2010 postseason,Wood had a 2.25 ERA,appearing in seven games overall. The Yankees won the 2010 ALDS against the Minnesota Twins in three games,but lost to the Texas Rangers in 6 games of the 2010 ALCS.
The Yankees announced on October 27 that the club had declined to exercise their option for Wood for 2011. [42]
On December 16,2010,Wood agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Cubs. [43] Wood reportedly turned down offers for long-term deals from several other teams worth more money due to his desire to keep his family in Chicago. [44] Wood re-signed with the Cubs on January 13,2012,for a one-year,$3 million deal with a team option for 2013. [45]
Plagued by arm issues and a soaring ERA,Wood retired on May 18,2012,striking out the only (and therefore final) batter he faced,Dayán Viciedo of the Chicago White Sox. The fans at Wrigley Field gave Wood a long standing ovation as his son,Justin,ran out to greet him as he exited the field. On his baseball career:"I had fun,I had a blast",Wood said. "I wouldn't trade anything in." [46] [47] [48]
On February 13,1999,Wood and former high-school teammate Kevin Walker were ticketed for urinating in a parking lot at 1:10 am in Scottsdale,Arizona. Wood missed his initial court appearance and an arrest warrant was issued. He later pleaded guilty and paid a fine of $90. [49]
Wood is married to Sarah Pates of Waukegan,Illinois. [50] The couple has one son,Justin,and two daughters,Katie and Charlotte. [51] Until 2008,the family resided in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago. [52]
While playing for the Cubs,the Woods hosted a celebrity bowling tournament called Kerry Wood's Strike Zone,which also featured a silent auction that raised over $2 million. [53] [54]
On June 24,2013,while paddleboarding in waters in Chicago,Wood happened upon a corpse floating in Belmont Harbor. He immediately reported the discovery to local authorities,who determined the deceased to be a 40-year-old man who had been reported missing by a North Side nursing home days earlier. [55]
Mark William Prior is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. A onetime top prospect of the Chicago Cubs,he pitched for the team from 2002 to 2006 in a career that was marred by injuries. In his prime,his repertoire of pitches included a mid-90s mph fastball,a curveball,and a changeup. He is currently the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano is a Dominican former professional baseball left fielder and second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Texas Rangers,Washington Nationals,and Chicago Cubs,and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Carlos Alberto Zambrano Matos,nicknamed "Big Z" or "El Toro",is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2001 to 2012 for the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins. Zambrano,who stands 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighs 275 pounds (125 kg),was signed by the Cubs as a free agent in 1997 and made his debut in 2001.
Carlos Silva is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (2002–2003),Minnesota Twins (2004–2007),Seattle Mariners (2008–2009),and Chicago Cubs (2010).
Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Lilly attended Yosemite High School in Oakhurst,California,and Fresno City College. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2013 for the Montreal Expos,New York Yankees,Oakland Athletics,Toronto Blue Jays,Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a two-time MLB All-Star.
Jonathan Ray Lieber is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He stands 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighs 240 pounds (110 kg). He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1994–1998),Chicago Cubs,New York Yankees (2004),and Philadelphia Phillies (2005–2007). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed,and utilized a fastball,a slider,and a changeup for his pitches. In a 14-season career,Lieber compiled a 131–124 record with 1,553 strikeouts and a 4.27 ERA in 2,198 innings pitched.
Richard Joseph Hill,nicknamed "Dick Mountain",is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Baltimore Orioles,Boston Red Sox,Cleveland Indians,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,New York Yankees,Oakland Athletics,Los Angeles Dodgers,Minnesota Twins,Tampa Bay Rays,New York Mets,Pittsburgh Pirates,and San Diego Padres. He has played during each MLB season from 2005 through 2024.
Jonathan Tyler Lester is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Oakland Athletics,Chicago Cubs,Washington Nationals,and St. Louis Cardinals. Less than two years after being diagnosed with lymphoma,Lester started and won the final game of the 2007 World Series for the Red Sox and,in May 2008,pitched a no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals. He helped lead the Red Sox to another championship in 2013,and he won the 2016 World Series with the Cubs. Lester started the opening game of a playoff series 12 times,which was a record for the most in baseball history until Justin Verlander passed him in 2023.
The 2003 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 7 to 15 to determine the champion of the National League,between the Central Division champion Chicago Cubs and the wild-card qualifying Florida Marlins. The Cubs,by virtue of being a division winner,had the home field advantage. The Marlins came back from a three games to one deficit and won the series in seven games,advancing to the World Series against the New York Yankees,whom they defeated in six games.
Jeffrey Alan Samardzija,nicknamed "Shark",is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball and football for the University of Notre Dame,and was recognized as a two-time football All-American playing wide receiver. He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft,and made his major-league (MLB) debut in 2008. He played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs from 2008 to 2014,the Oakland Athletics in 2014,the Chicago White Sox in 2015,and the San Francisco Giants from 2016 to 2020. He was an all-star in 2014.
Bobby Dean Howry is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher.
Sean Christopher Marshall,nicknamed "Big Smooth",is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.
Carlos Agustín Mármol is a Dominican former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Dodgers,and the Miami Marlins. Carlos owns Recta 49,a successful restaurant/car wash in the Dominican Republic.
Kevin Richard Hart is a former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. As of 2016,he is a Major League Professional Scout for the New York Yankees.
The 1998 Chicago Cubs season was the 127th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise,the 123rd in the National League and the 83rd at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished second in the National League Central with a record of 90–73.
Randy David Wells is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs.
Jacob Joseph Arrieta is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,Chicago Cubs,Philadelphia Phillies,and San Diego Padres.
James Clayton Russell is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball at Navarro College and the University of Texas at Austin and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. Russell made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 5,2010,and also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
Kyle Christian Hendricks,is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs. He made his MLB debut in 2014 with the Cubs,and led MLB in earned run average (ERA) in 2016.
The 2015 Chicago Cubs season was the 144th season for the franchise,the 140th in the National League and the 100th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were managed by Joe Maddon in his first year as Cubs manager and played their home games at Wrigley Field as members of the National League Central.
Awards and achievements | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Baseball America Rookie of the Year 1998 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Players Choice NL Most Outstanding Rookie 1998 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Fewerst hits per nine innings (NL) 1998 2003 | Succeeded by |
Sporting positions | ||
Preceded by | Chicago Cubs Opening Day starting pitcher 2003–2004 | Succeeded by |