Kerry Wood: Where Have You Been?

If there is a better feel-good story in the 2008 season better than the Tampa Bay Rays, it is the resurgence of Kerry Wood and his career.

It is safe to say that Kerry Wood has endured the highest of highs and the lowest of lows through his career thus far. After struggling through multiple injuries, to both his arm and his ego, Kerry Wood has re-emerged as a dominant closer in the game. Now, after being rewarded with a trip to the all-star game, Wood is back.

Playing for a winning team and slamming the door in the ninth inning for the Cubbies, it is certain that Kerry Wood has found a way to revive his career.

It is a career that started out on the fast track. As a rookie in 1998, Wood tossed one of the best baseball games ever in only his fifth career start. Fanning 20 Houston Astros while walking none in a shut-out victory officially placed Wood on the map.

He would collect 13 wins all together in his rookie season on his way to hoisting the National League Rookie of the Year trophy at the end of the season.

Wood's career seemed to be on the fast-track. He is the fastest pitcher to reach 1000 strikeouts in both innings pitched (853) and appearances (134).

Press the injury button now.

If Wood could get in the Delorian and return to the end of the 2000 season, he would—sadly, this is when the fireballer's career took its first spiral downward.

Wood suffered the first of his multiple injuries in the following spring training after his rookie campaign. The injury forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery, a nightmare for any pitcher. 

The following three seasons, however, Wood returned and began to show promise again, going 34-24 and striking out 700 batters from 2001-03. The Cubs made a brilliant run through the 2003 NLCS to Game Seven, losing to the eventual World Series Champion Florida Marlins, with a little help from Steve Bartman.

After gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated during Spring Training in 2004, Wood's body began to falter. Between the 2004 and 2007 seasons Wood was sidelined with a strained triceps, a sore knee that required arthroscopic surgery, and a plethora of other arm injuries that only allowed him to continue rehab until another injury.

The Cubs took a final shot on Wood in 2007, signing him to a one-year deal and an offer to work out of the bullpen. After earning his stripes both in 2007 and in spring training in 2008, boasting a 2.84 ERA in the spring, Kerry Wood earned the closer's job in Chicago.

Wood has now jump-started his career, with a 2.91 ERA through the first half of the year, 22 saves in 27 chances,  an All-Star Selection, and the trust of his manager and fans.

It would have been awful to see someone with as much talent as Kerry Wood have to hang up his cleats and find something else to do with his life. Instead, he has been re-invented himself as a dominant closer, and will continue to shut the door in the ninth for the Cubs.