PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood walked a batter and didn’t record a strikeout during a brief one-inning relief appearance in a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday.
The injury-plagued Wood is recovering from shoulder tendinitis. He threw 12 pitches – 11 fastballs and a breaking ball – during his fifth-inning appearance for the Class-A Peoria Chiefs.
He faced four batters and was awarded the win in a 9-3 victory over the Fort Wayne Wizards.
Wood originally was slated to start for Peoria, but said later he decided he’d rather pitch out of the bullpen because that’s how the Cubs expect to use him.
“It felt good tonight,” Wood said. “When I get to Chicago, I won’t have 30 minutes to warm up. So I thought it would be good for me to get used to this.”
Wood’s fastball topped out at 93 mph. He is expected to pitch back-to-back one-inning bullpen outings for the Chiefs on Thursday and Friday and, if those appearances are successful, Wood said the Cubs would reassess his situation. It’s likely he would be moved up to Triple-A Iowa.
Wood, who was named the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year, has been on the disabled list since the start of the regular season with tendinitis in his right shoulder.
It’s the third straight season Wood has pitched for the Chiefs while recovering from injuries.
“I’m proud of Kerry,” said Cubs catcher Henry Blanco, already in Peoria on a rehab assignment for a herniated disc in his neck. “He’s come a long way, man. It’s good to see him throwing so well.”
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