Cubs’ Wood Undergoes ‘Tommy John’ Surgery
Kerry Wood, last season’s National League rookie of the year, underwent reconstructive elbow surgery Thursday in Birmingham, Ala., with Dr. James Andrews transplanting a ligament in what’s known as “Tommy John surgery.”
The Chicago Cub right-hander will sit out the season. Wood, 21, was 13-6 for the Cubs last season and struck out 20 batters against the Houston Astros in May, tying a major league record.
During the surgery, Wood’s torn ulnar collateral ligament was repaired and wrapped with a graft from his right forearm, a procedure pioneered on John’s left elbow by Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974.
Wood sat out the final month last season because of a sore elbow before returning to start Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. He tore the ligament after making 26 pitches in his first spring training start last month.
Wood is scheduled to be released from the hospital today and travel to Chicago after two weeks to begin range-of-motion exercises, the Cubs said.
Wood struck out 233 last season, had a 3.40 earned-run average and allowed hitters only a .196 average. He was the fourth pick in the 1995 amateur draft.
Now the pitcher who has been compared to fellow Texans Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan is faced with the reality that his 95-mph fastball may not return. Rehabilitation usually takes about a year.
When he comes back, Wood will have to change his delivery, taking stress off the reconstructed elbow. The Cubs had already worked with him during the spring to stop throwing across his body.
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The San Diego Padres placed third baseman George Arias on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right thumb. They recalled right-hander Carlos Almanzar from Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League. . . . Florida Marlin third baseman Mike Lowell, working his way back after cancer surgery, was sent to triple-A Calgary for a rehabilitation assignment. Lowell, 25, who grew up in South Florida, was diagnosed with testicular cancer after a small mass was found during a routine physical exam Feb. 19. He underwent surgery two days later to remove one testicle.
Buddy Bell, the minor-league field coordinator for the Cincinnati Reds, was named manager of the U.S. team that will compete in the Pan-American Games July 24-Aug. 2 at Winnipeg, Canada. The Pan-American Games is the U.S. qualifying tournament for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Professional players not on 40-man rosters are eligible for the games and will be chosen by a selection committee that includes Reds’ assistant general manager Doc Rodgers. Bell was fired as manager of the Detroit Tigers in September.