Kerry Wood looked to be an all-time great when he came up, but injuries really waylaid his career. Mark Pryor was another Cubs pitcher who had great ability but was even more injury prone than Wood.
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 ever 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 Friday after his final game, a 3-2 loss to the White Sox.
''Mentally and physically we get to this point,'' Wood said. ''Every player gets to this point where we don't all get to choose when, we don't all get to have a say in it. But I was fortunate enough to play this game a long time in a great city in front of the best fans in baseball. ... It was time.''
Wood struck out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches, the last one a swing and a miss, in the eighth inning before he was replaced as bench coach Jamie Quirk came to take him out since manager Dale Sveum had been ejected earlier. His teammates joined him on the mound to congratulate him and he left to a rousing ovation. Even White Sox slugger Adam Dunn doffed his batting helmet and clapped for Wood as he stood at first base.
Wood hugged his son as he reached the dugout, then lifted the boy into his arms. Moments later, he came out for a curtain call and waved his cap to the fans.
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