Cubs RHP Wood Out For Year With Knee Tear
CHICAGO (AP) -- Kerry Wood's first season back with the Chicago Cubs is over.
Wood is done for the year, he said Monday, because of a tear in his left knee. The 34-year-old right-hander will have arthroscopic surgery after the season.
Wood said he hurt himself about two hours after pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings on Saturday in a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros.
"Squatted down, stood up, and that was it," Wood said, adding that it was an issue he'd been dealing with for almost a year and a half. "We're expecting six weeks at the most to recover and I'll be ready to go."
Wood said Monday that he hopes to pitch for Chicago again next year if the team offers him a contract.
"I'm home, and this is where we're at," he said. "I'm not going to play anywhere else and this is where I want to be. If they need me back, I'll be back."
Wood, who was signed for one year and $1.5 million this season, went 3-5 with one save and a 3.35 ERA. He has spent 11 of his 13 big league seasons with Chicago, and played the previous two years in the American League.
Wood was drafted by Cubs in 1995 and made his debut in 1998. He struck out 20 batters in fifth career start, becoming an instant fan favorite.
"If you're going to be a leader, you've got to perform. He's done a real good job of that," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "Between his experience, his knowledge of the organization and his loyalty to it ... there's a lot of things that go into leadership."
Wood missed most of June with a blister on his right index finger but was otherwise effective, striking out 57 in 51 innings.
"I'm glad it happened now instead of getting through the season and going into spring and having something happen in spring and missing a month and a half," he said.
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