Cubs’ Wood has successful shoulder surgery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Chicago Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood
underwent successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday and expects
to be back in the line-up next year.

Doctors found no structural damage during the one-hour
arthroscopic operation to clean and reinforce the area around
the pitcher’s rotator cuff, Cubs trainer Mark O’Neal said.

Wood, 28, started 10 games for the Cubs before going on the
disabled list with a strained right shoulder. He came back in
August after a second stint on the DL and made 11 appearances
out of the bullpen.

The more pitches Wood threw, however, the more his shoulder
ached. The surgery was delayed until the Cubs appeared out of
playoff contention.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Wood is no stranger to
rehabilitation, having missed the entire 1999 season following
elbow surgery.

A former All-Star, Wood was 3-4 with a 4.23 ERA this year.

“Woody’s been through this before with his elbow and I
think he’ll come through with flying colors because he knows
what to do,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.