Kerry Wood #34

Kerry begins his 12th major league season with the Cubs, including his second year in his second stint with the team when he signed a one year deal for 2012 with a club option for 2013...originally selected by the Cubs in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1995 draft, he has seen big league action with Chicago (1998, 2000-08, 2011), Cleveland (2009-10) and the Yankees (2010)...Is 86-73 with 63 saves and a 3.64 ERA (555 ER/1371.1 IP) in 436 career games, 178 starts. Is 80-66 with 35 saves and a 3.63 ERA (513 ER/1270.1 IP) in 331 games, 178 starts, in 11 seasons with the Cubs...Has pitched exclusively in relief since the 2007 campaign, and is 15-17 with 63 saves in 85 chances and a 3.49 ERA (94 ER/242.2 IP) in 247 outings in that stretch. Prior to 2007, his lone action out of the bullpen came with Chicago in 2005 - he made 11 relief appearances, going 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12.0 IP)...All told, has a 71-55 record with 11 complete games and a 3.69 ERA (458 ER/1,116.2 IP) in 178 career starts...His 1,464 strikeouts with the Cubs rank third in franchise history behind Fergie Jenkins (2,038) and Carlos Zambrano (1,542)...With the Cubs, his .216 opponent batting average ranks lowest in franchise history among hurlers with at least 1,000 innings pitched...Will become just the fourth Cubs pitcher to reach 12 years of service for the franchise, joining Charlie Root (16), Guy Bush (12) and Rick Reuschel (12)...Has reached the postseason with the Cubs in 1998, 2003, 2007-08 and with the Yankees in 2010...has gone 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA (17 ER/44.2 IP) in 15 career post-season outings, including five starts...Recorded his 1,000th career strikeout, August 11, 2003, against Houston...the milestone punchout came in his 134th major league game spanning 853.0 innings. Became the fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 1,000 strikeouts in both games and innings pitched...Has hit seven regular-season home runs...also has one post-season homer...Returned to the mound in 2000 after undergoing surgery April 8, 1999, to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow (Dr. James Andrews)...during the reconstructive elbow surgery, his torn ligament was repaired and wrapped with a graft from his right forearm...Kerry and his wife Sarah have annually hosted "Kerry Wood's Strike Zone," a celebrity bowling tournament and silent auction fundraiser...the tournament has raised more than $2 million since it's inception, benefiting pediatric cancer research at Children's Memorial Hospital as well a number of other charities...Named the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year, fanning 233 batters in 26 starts - including a record-tying 20-strikeout contest May 6 vs. Houston for which he earned N.L. Player of the Week honors. Was named Baseball America's Rookie of the Year, The Sporting News' N.L. Rookie Pitcher of the Year and Baseball Weekly and Baseball Digest's N.L. Rookie of the Year...was voted the N.L.'s Outstanding Rookie by his peers at the Players Choice Awards. Along with setting the Cubs rookie mark for strikeouts, he recorded the highest single-season strikeout-to-innings pitched ratio of any Cubs starter during the 20th century (12.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings)...Graduated from Grand Prairie (Texas) High School in 1995...as a senior, he earned high school All-America and Texas 5-A Player of the Year honors.

2011

Kerry recorded a career-high 21 holds in 55 relief appearances in his return to Chicago after spending the previous two seasons with Cleveland (2009-10) and the Yankees (2010)...Held the opponent scoreless in 41 of 55 outings, including 12 of his first 13, April 2-May 7 (1.38 ERA)...Limited foes to a .236 batting average (45-for-191)...Owned a 3.76 ERA (11 ER/26.1 IP) in 29 appearances at Wrigley Field compared to a 2.92 mark (8 ER/24.2 IP) on the road (26 outings)...Produced a 1-4 record with a 2.48 ERA (8 ER/29.0 IP) in 30 games before the All-Star break compared to a 2-1 record with one save and a 4.50 ERA (11 ER/22.0 IP) in 25 outings after the Mid-Summer Classic...Owned a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13.0 IP) in his first 13 games of the season (April 2-May 7), but posted a 4.03 ERA (17 ER/38.0 IP) in his final 42 outings...Was on the disabled list, June 13-July 1 (retroactive to June 9), with a blister on his right index finger...Tied the franchise mark (since the mound was lowered in 1969) by striking out eight-straight batters spanning three appearances, August 5-11. The mark was previously set by Kyle Farnsworth (May 23-June 1, 2001) and Juan Cruz (March 31-April 4, 2003)...thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau...In his first appearance as a Cub since September 27, 2008, tossed a scoreless seventh frame, April 2 vs. Pittsburgh (1 BB, 2 SO)...after taking over for Carlos Zambrano with a 2-2 count, he was charged with Ronny Cedeno's walk...Tossed a season-high 2.0 innings, June 4 at St. Louis (1 H, 1 HB, 2 SO)...Surrendered a season-high three earned runs on two hits and two walks, while fanning two in July 17's eighth inning vs. Florida...After a scoreless ninth inning, July 20 vs. Philadelphia, missed time due to the flu...next appearance was a 1-2-3 eighth inning, July 27 in Milwaukee...August 15 in Houston, tossed a perfect ninth frame to record his first save since June 29, 2010 with Cleveland...Fanned 20, while walking one in 12 August appearances...didn't issue a free pass in 12 outings (10.1 IP), July 27-August 23...Picked up the win in consecutive outings - September 7 vs. Cincinnati and September 10 at the Mets...Suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, and was officially shut down for the remainder of the season, September 19...had arthroscopic knee surgery during the offseason.

2010

Kerry combined to go 3-4 with eight saves (in 12 chances) and a 3.13 ERA in 47 relief appearances between the Indians and Yankees ... closed out the season with New York, going 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA and 10 holds in 24 outings, helping the Yankees clinch the A.L. Wild Card. ... His 0.69 ERA (2 ER/26.0 IP) with the Yankees was the lowest singleseason ERA in franchise history (min. 25.0 IP), surpassing Goose Gossage's 0.77 ERA in 1981. ... Began the year on Cleveland's 15-day disabled list with a strained right lat, suffered in Spring Training ... made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Akron (6 ER/1.2 IP) and was activated, May 7. ... Surrendered 12 runs in his first 12 appearances, pitching to a 9.58 ERA (11 ER/10.1 IP) through June 10 ... rebounded by holding the opposition scoreless in nine of his final 11 outings with Cleveland from June 13- July 11 (2.79 ERA in that span). w Went 1-4 with a 6.30 ERA (14 ER/20.0 IP) with eight saves in 23 games for Cleveland. ... Returned to the 15-day disabled list, July 17 (retroactive to July 12) with a blister on his right index finger. w Was reinstated from the D.L., July 31, just hours before he was traded to the Yankees along with a cash consideration for players to be named (INF Matt Cusick and RHP Andy Shive, October 15). ... With New York, stranded nine of 10 inherited runners -- stranded two runners on base on four occasions. ... Made his Yankees debut, August 1 at Tampa Bay, tossing a scoreless inning. ... Did not allow a run in a career-high 21-straight appearances, August 6- September 26, surpassing his previous career high of 11 games in 2009. w Tossed a career-best 23.1-straight scoreless innings during the stretch, surpassing his 21.0-inning run during his 1998 rookie season with the Cubs. ... Struck out Ramon Santiago in the seventh inning, August 18 vs. Detroit, for his 1,500th career punchout. ... Made seven post-season appearances for the Yankees, posting a 2.25 ERA (2 ER/8.0 IP) and no record ... had a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP) in four ALCS appearances against the Rangers.

2009

Spent season as the Indians closer and finished tied for 11th in the American League with 20 saves in 26 appearances (77%), his second campaign in the closing role and his first season with the Indians...Finished T19th among AL relievers with 63 strikeouts and averaged 10.3 SO per 9.0IP while limiting hitters to a .233 average against...Earned his first American League save on April 15 at Kansas City and first AL win on April 28 vs. Boston....Suffered first blown save on May 4 at Toronto and blew back-to-back saves in extra innings losses in Chicago-NL on June 19-20 that defined the Indians season...Unscored upon over 11 straight outings from May 20-June 17 (10.1IP, 3H, 0R) and from June 28th-on he had an ERA of 3.03 (29.2IP, 23H, 10ER, 34SO, .207AVG)...From August 1st on he had an ERA of 2.37 (19.0IP, 16H, 5ER, 22SO, .222AVG)...42 of his 58 outings were scoreless and recorded a strikeout in 44 of his 58 appearances...Made 300th career appearance on June 11 vs. KC...Notched first career 1.0+IP save on July 9 at Chicago-AL...From July 4th-on he saved 11 of his last 13 chances (85%)....Notched saves in consecutive outings just 1 time in 2009 (8/26-27)...Was 8th in the league in games finished (50), T4th in blown saves and 12th in save % (77%)...Batters hit .255 (26-102) with runners on and .226 (14-62) with RISP...RHH had an OPS of .676 off him (.322OB/.354SLG)... Overall Major League hitters batted .233 (48-206), including a mark of .208 (20-96) by RHH.

2008

In his 14th season with the organization, Kerry made the transition to the closer role, converting 34 of 40 save situations ...Was named to the N.L. All-Star Team for the second time in his career (also 2003), but was unable to pitch due to a blister on his right index finger...Was 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA (24 ER/66.1 IP) in 65 games...He finished his Cubs career with the 3rd highest strikeout total (1407) in the 133-year history of the organization as he has averaged 10.4 strikeouts per 9.0IP for his career (.215 career average against)...Flourishing in his new role, Wood was named to his second National League All-Star Team, averaged 11.4 strikeouts per 9.0IP (84K, 66.1IP) and limited Major League hitters to a .219 average against (54-247, .344SLG/ .288OB/.632OPS all'd)...His strikeout to walk ratio of 4.67 (84K:18BB) was 5th best among all National League relievers & his .219 average against was 15th best in the NL... His 34 saves were the most by a Cubs pitcher since 1998 as he recorded saves in 12 straight opportunities at one point in June and July...He owns a career relief ERA of 3.16 in 98 appearances out of the bullpen (102.2IP, 76H, 36ER, 125K, .203AVG, .608OPS)...His 34 saves ranked tied for fourth among NL closers ...His 85% percent save-percentage ranked tied for sixth (34-40)...Longest 2008 Relief Outing: 2.0 IP (5 times), last 9/18 vs. Milwaukee...Had a 2.80 ERA (11 ER/35.1 IP) in 34 relief appearances at Wrigley Field, converting 21 of 22 save chances at home ...Converted 17 consecutive save chances at home, May 9 through the end of the season...Held the opponent scoreless in 51 of his 65 relief outings...Pitched on no days rest in 19 games, recording a 2.45 ERA (5 ER/18.1 IP) in those games with 13 saves...Allowed just 16 hits in 150 at-bats when reaching two strikes on a batter, good for a .107 batting average in that situation...Picked up his first career save April 3 vs. Milwaukee, tossing a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the 6-3 victory...Was unable to pitch in the All-Star game due to a blister on his right index finger ... eventually landed on the disabled list July 14...Reinstated from the D.L. August 5 and pitched a scoreless eighth inning that night in an 11-7 win vs. Houston...Tossed 8.0 scoreless innings in eight appearances after coming off the D.L...Produced a 1.23 ERA (1 ER/7.1 IP) in his final seven outings of the regular season.

2007

After beginning the season on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, Kerry appeared in 22 games for Chicago, all in relief ... made his season debut, August 5 -- his first big league outing in 14 months. ... Held the opponent scoreless in 18 of his 22 outings. ... Went 1-1 with a 1.04 ERA (1 ER/8.2 IP) in eight rehabilitation outings with Rookie League Mesa, Single-A Peoria and Double-A Tennessee from July 14-31. ... Activated from the disabled list August 3 ... made his season debut August 5, tossing a scoreless inning vs. the Mets. w Marked his first major league appearance since June 6, 2006 at Houston. w Was his first relief appearance since August 29, 2005 vs. Los Angeles (N.L.). ... Made three scoreless relief appearances to start his season (3.2 IP). ... Pitched in both ends of September 15's doubleheader in St. Louis. w Earned his first big league win since May 29, 2006 at Houston, and his first career major league win in relief in the first game. ... Finished the season by stringing together eight consecutive scoreless appearances dating to September 13 (9.2 IP). ... Pitched in two games of the NLDS against Arizona, working a total of 3.0 innings, allowing one run to score and striking out two.

2006

Wood spent most of the season rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, and made four starts before he had to be shut down again. Doctors discovered a partial tear in Wood's right rotator cuff. Wood is expected to return next season, but as a reliever as he continues to build up arm strength.

2005

Kerry battled injuries all season, missing approximately three months of the season as he made three trips to the disabled list...was shut down for good on August 30, undergoing arthroscopic surgery the next day...was on the disabled list May 3-June 29, July 25-August 5 and August 30-end of the season...opened the year in the starting rotation, going 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA (28 ER/54.0 IP) in 10 starts, walking 21 batters and striking out 60...started the Cubs' home opener April 8 against Milwaukee - but was not involved in the decision in a 12-inning 6-3 Brewer win...held the Brewers to 2 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks and struck out 7 batters...left his April 30 start after just 3.0 innings of work with a right shoulder strain and went on the disabled list May 3 with a right shoulder strain...remained on the DL until June 29...recorded a 2.84 ERA in three rehab appearances with Iowa (AAA), fanning 18 batters in 12.2 innings...was reinstated to the active list on June 29 and started that afternoon...pitched 6.0 innings in a 3-2 Cub win...allowed just 1 run - a Bill Hall homer - on 2 hits as he struck out 9 batters...worked a season-high 7.2 innings in earning the win July 9 at Florida (8-2)...it was Wood's first win since April 24...left his start on July 20 after just 3.0 innings with a stiff right shoulder...began his second stint on the 15-day disabled list on July 25 (retroactive to July 21)...went to Peoria (A) for a rehab assignment on July 31, where he saw action in two games (twirling 2.1 scoreless innings)...was reinstated to the active list August 5 and moved to the bullpen...was 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12.0 IP) and 4 holds in 11 relief appearances...worked a season-high 8.0 consecutive scoreless innings August 5-19, spanning seven outings...held opponents to a .100 average and struck out 14 batters while issuing just 5 free passes...retired 10 of his 11 first batters faced...was unscored upon in 9 of his 11 appearances...made his first ML relief appearance August 5 in New York, working 1.0 scoreless inning in a 9-5 Met win...tossed a season-high 2.0 innings of relief August 14 in a 5-4 defeat of St. Louis...entered the game in relief of Mark Prior and earned the hold...it marked the first time Wood and Prior worked in the same contest...was shut down for the remainder of the season on August 30...underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on August 31...the one-hour surgery - which was performed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek - entailed reinforcement of the labrum, debridement of the rotator cuff and debridement of the bursa.

2004

Kerry - who made his second career Opening Day start - moved up to fifth on the Cubs' all-time strikeout list (fanning 144 batters in 140.1 innings) despite spending two months of the season on the disabled list...moved into fifth on the franchise all-time strikeout list...held opponents to a .244 average, including a .227 mark against right-handed batters and a .193 mark with runners on base...posted four double-digit strikeout games, giving him 41 for his career - the most of any Cub pitcher since the start of the expansion ERA (since 1961)...in five April starts, allowed just 11 runs (10 earned) over 35.2 innings and fanned 45 batters...served two stints on Major League Baseball's suspended list (May 14-20 and August 16-22)...was suspended in April for confronting umpire Eric Cooper and in August for hitting Jeff Kent with a pitch after both benches had been warned...on April 17, he worked 8.2 innings in a 3-2 Cub loss...was being replaced by Kent Mercker when he was ejected from the game...was ejected from the August 22 contest after 4.2 innings with a 10-2 lead...made his second career Opening Day start in a 7-4 win in Cincinnati...was the first Cub starter since Claude Passeau to win consecutive Opening Day starts (1941-1942)...struck out 11 batters in his April 11 victory at Atlanta (10-2), including seven straight strikeouts from the 3rd-5th innings, tying a club record (for consecutive strikeouts by a starter)...fanned Chipper Jones, J.D. Drew and Andruw Jones in the 3rd; Julio Franco, Johnny Estrada and Jesse Garcia in the 4th; and Russ Ortiz in the 5th...combined to hurl a 4-hit shutout with Kent Mercker and LaTroy Hawkins April 24 at New York (3-0)...worked 7.0 innings, striking out 9 batters...left a May 11 contest in Los Angeles with tightness in his right tricep after two innings of work...the right tricep strain would result in Wood spending two months of the season on the disabled list (May 7-July 11)...prior to going on the disabled list, Wood was 2-3 with a 2.53 ERA (12 ER/42.2 IP)...was 5-6 with a 4.14 ERA in 15 games after being activated from the disabled list...made one rehab start in Iowa (AAA), allowing just 2 hits over 5.0 frames...picked up the win in his first start after being activated from the disabled list (July 11 at St. Louis), snapping the club's 5-game losing streak...surrendered 1 run on 3 hits in 5.0 innings of work...hit his seventh career homer August 14 off Los Angeles' Kaz Ishii in a 2-0 shutout...became the fourth Cub pitcher since 1969 to homer in a Cub shutout...all four homers have been solo shots.

2003

Kerry, the Cubs' Opening Day starter and a member of the 2003 National League All-Star team, went 14-11 with a major league-high 266 strikeouts, 4 complete games and a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts ...his ERA was 8th in the National League...was the first Cub to lead the N.L. in strikeouts since Fergie Jenkins in 1969 (273)...his 14 victories were a career high ...this was the fourth time he reached the double-digit victory mark...surpassed the 200.0-innings mark for the second consecutive season...limited opposing batters to a .203 average - the 2nd-lowest mark in the NL...has held major league batters to a .209 average during his big league career (677-3234), allowing 677 hits in 902.2 innings while striking out 1,065 batters ...has a career ratio of 10.6 strikeouts for every 9.0 innings of work...has allowed 3 or fewer hits in 44 of his major league starts...has gone 37-24 with 9 complete games and a 3.27 ERA (201 ER/554.0 IP) over his last 85 starts dating back to May 19, 2001 - which was approximately one year after his return from "Tommy John surgery" ...over the stretch, he has fanned 628 batters while allowing 413 hits...Over his final 6 starts (from August 27 through the end of the season), Wood went 3-1 with a 0.84 ERA...allowed 26 hits and 4 earned runs in 43.0 innings while striking out 58 batters...in his 1 loss (September 2 vs. St. Louis), the Cubs were blanked 2-0 ...in a September 12 no-decision vs. Cincinnati, he left the game after 6.0 innings leading 5-1...Wood fanned a major league-high 266 batters in 211.0 innings of work this year ...he reached the 200-level for the fourth time during his five-season career (233 in 1998 and 217 in both 2001 and 2002)...his strikeout total was the 3rd-best single-season total in Cubs history (since 1900) - surpassed only by Fergie Jenkins' 1970 (274 strikeouts) and 1969 (273) seasons...had 11 double-digit strikeout games, giving him 37 for his big league career - the most of any Cubs pitcher since the start of the expansion era (since 1961)...put together three straight double-digit strikeout contests for the second time during his career May 26 (10 vs. Pittsburgh), June 1 (11 vs. Houston) and June 7 (11 vs. the Yankees)...on August 11, he reached the 1,000-strikeout mark for his career when he fanned Houston's Jeff Kent to end the 7th inning...the strikeout came in his 134th major league game spanning 853.0 innings...became the fastest pitcher in major league history to reach the 1,000 level in both games (Roger Clemens had been the fastest with 143 games) and in innings pitched (Hideo Nomo had been the fastest with 927.2)...the quickest Cub to 1,000 strikeouts had been Fergie Jenkins - who fanned his 1,000th batter with the club on June 13, 1970, in Los Angeles ...it was Jenkins' 196th game as a Cub spanning 1,198.0 innings...his 1,065 career strikeouts rank 8th on the Cubs' all-time list ...Bob Rush is 7th with 1,076, while Larry Corcoran is 6th with 1,086...In his final start of the first half July 9 vs. Florida at Wrigley Field, Wood went the distance in a 5-1 victory ...he allowed 3 hits, 1 run and 3 walks while striking out 12 batters...in his first start of the second half July 19 at Florida, he went the distance in a 1-0 contest - allowing 2 hits and 5 walks while fanning 8 batters...was the first Cub to go the distance in back-to-back starts since Jon Lieber in 2001 (August 10 and August 15)...the combined 5 hits allowed over the 2 starts were the fewest by a Cubs pitcher in back-to-back route-going efforts since Burt Hooton (2-hitter on September 21, 1971, vs New York and no-hitter April 16, 1972, vs. Philadelphia)...pitched a 3-hitter in the Cubs' 4-1 victory at Cincinnati June 18 ...allowed a Jose Guillen homer and no walks while fanning 9 ...retired the first 17 batters he faced before giving up a 6th-inning single to Reggie Taylor...threw the fifth shutout of his major league career in a 2-0 affair September 17 vs. New York, allowing 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 11 batters...Wood hit a pair of homers this season - increasing his career total to 6...Fergie Jenkins hit 13 homers with the Cubs - a team record for a pitcher ...since his retirement, Wood's 6 homers are the most for any Cubs moundsman...Wood made his All-Star Game debut July 15 at U.S. Cellular Field, hurling a scoreless 4th inning for the National League squad...after allowing a single to All-Star Game MVP Garret Anderson, he struck out Edgar Martinez, induced Hideki Matsui to ground into a fielder's choice and fanned Troy Glaus...Wood plunked 21 opposing batters this season...dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, the only Cubs pitcher to have a higher hit batter total was Nixey Callahan (22) in 1900...he was the first big leaguer to hit more than 20 batters in a season since California's Tom Murphy plunked 21 in 1969 ...the last National League pitcher to surpass the 20-mark in a season was Cincinnati's Jake Weimer - with 23 in 1907...In Wood's 11 losses, he allowed 45 earned runs runs and 59 hits in 63.1 innings ...in his other 21 contests, he had a 1.83 ERA - giving up 93 hits and 31 runs (30 earned) in 147.2 innings...made his first career Opening Day start March 31 at New York and was the winning pitcher in a 15-2 affair ...at 25 years of age, he was the Cubs' youngest Opening Day hurler since Ray Burris in 1976...on April 29 in Dusty Baker's return to San Francisco, he picked up the victory in a 4-2 contest - allowing 2 runs in 6.0 innings...on May 15 at Miller Park, he fanned 13 batters in 7.0 scoreless frames in a game the club eventually won 4-2 in 17 innings ...Cubs pitchers fanned 24 Milwaukee batters in the contest - a National League mark for an extra-inning game...on June 7 against Roger Clemens and the Yankees, he picked up the 50th victory of his big league career in a 5-2 contest ...in 7.2 innings of work, he allowed 3 hits, 1 run and 3 walks while striking out 11 batters...over a 10-start stretch April 23-June 13, the Cubs scored just 13 runs while he was in the game ...over the stretch, he went just 2-5 despite a 3.32 ERA (24 ER/65.0 IP)...on September 7 at Milwaukee, he picked up his first victory in a month (9-2) ...in his previous 9 starts, the Cubs plated just 16 runs while he was on the mound...in a 6-0 win at Cincinnati September 23, he had a no-hitter through 6.1 innings before surrending a Wily Mo Pena infield single.

2002

Kerry surpassed the 200.0-innings mark for the first time during his professional career (213.2), making a career-high 33 starts and going 12-11 with 4 complete games, 217 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA...led the club in strikeouts, just ahead of the 215 recorded by Matt Clement ... since 1900, the only other year the Cubs had two pitchers reach the 200-strikeouts mark was in 1970 -- when Fergie Jenkins fanned 274 batters and Ken Holtzman had 202...reached the 200-strikeouts level for the third time -- and for the second consecutive season ... was the first Cub to record back-to-back 200-strikeout campaigns since Jenkins' five-year run from 1967-1971...fanned at least 10 batters in 7 of his starts -- including a season-high 13 on August 2 vs. Colorado...surrendered 169 hits -- allowing 4 or fewer hits 14 times ... held opponents to a .221 batting average...outing while allowing 4 or fewer hits ... over the span, he gave up just 16 hits in 37.0 innings...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he was just the fifth major league pitcher to accomplish the feat (five straight 6.0-plus inning/4-minus hit starts) over the past 10 years...ranked 3rd in the National League in strikeouts and was 6th in both strikeouts per 9.0 innings (9.1) and opponents' batting average ... tied for 5th in the league in complete games and tied for the league lead in hit batters (16)...his hit batsmen total was the highest for a Cubs pitcher since Ed Reulbach plunked 18 batters in 1905...worked 66.2 innings in his 11 losses -- with the Cubs scoring a grand total of 21 runs in those contests ... also had 7 no-decisions in which the Cubs were leading at the time of his removal from the game -- the 2nd-highest total in the majors behind the 8 blown saves for Oakland's Tim Hudson...went just 3-5 over his final 9 starts with a 2.80 ERA (19 ER/61.0 IP) ... in the 3 wins, the Cubs scored 31 runs ... in the other 6 games, the Cubs scored 7 runs -- while he gave up 11 in his 41.0 innings on the mound...made his season debut April 3 at Cincinnati and earned the victory in a 10-3 decision, fanning 10 batters in 5.0 innings ... followed up that outing with a second straight 10-strikeout affair April 10 vs. New York...on May 7 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, he hurled the third shutout of his big league career in an 8-0 contest ... allowed 4 singles and 2 walks while fanning 9...tossed his second complete game of the season May 25, scattering 4 hits -- and issuing 0 walks -- in a 5-1 victory over Houston at Astros Field...allowed a career-high 8 runs in a 10-7 loss to the White Sox June 16 at Wrigley Field...in his 2 starts against the White Sox, he allowed 14 earned runs and 11 walks in 9.1 innings ... his ERA in his other 31 starts was 3.22 (73 ER/204.1 IP)...on August 23 at Arizona, he went the distance -- but took the loss -- in a 3-2 contest ... in 8.0 innings of work, he allowed 3 hits, 3 runs and 3 walks while striking out 12 batters ... gave up a 2-run homer to Luis Gonzalez in the 1st inning -- then didn't surrender another hit until the 8th inning, when Tony Womack had a run-scoring double...suffered another complete-game loss September 18 at New York (2-1), allowing just a 2-run homer to Mike Piazza in the 1st inning ... in his ensuing start September 24 vs. Cincinnati, he gave up just a 1st-inning Aaron Boone homer in a 1-0 loss...in the September 18 start, he reached the 00-strikeouts mark for the third time -- and the 200.0-innings plateau for the first time...in the 4th inning of his September 2 start vs. Milwaukee, he tied a big league record when he became the third pitcher in Cubs history to strike out 4 batters in an inning ... in the frame, he fanned Bill Hall (who reached on a Todd Hundley error), Ryan Thompson, Paul Bako (who reached on a wild pitch) and Andrew Lorraine...in the bottom half of the 4th, he hit his fourth M.L. homer -- a 2-run shot off Andrew Lorraine ... drove in a career-high 3 runs in the 17-4 victory...went 12-for-72 at the plate with 1 homer, 5 RBI and a trio of 2-hit contests.

2001

Was 12-6 with a 3.36 ERA in 28 starts...fanned 217 batters in 174.1 innings while holding opponents to a big league-low .202 batting average...ranked ninth in the NL in ERA and tied for eighth in winning percentage (.667)...his strikeout total ranked fifth in the majors, while his ratio of 11.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings ranked second...fanned at least 10 batters in eight starts...went 11-2 with a 2.71 ERA over his final 20 starts...had a 3-game losing streak May 3-May 13...snapped the streak May 19, defeating Arizona 6-2 - which started a personal 6-game winning streak (May 19-June 17)...on May 25 vs. Milwaukee at Wrigley Field, he pitched his second career 1-hitter in a 1-0 shutout...allowed just 2 walks while striking out 14 Brewers - as the lone hit he surrendered was a Mark Loretta single leading off the 7th inning...was on the disabled list August 4-September 7 with right shoulder tendinitis...made his last start before going on the disabled list August 3 at Los Angeles and earned his 10th win of the season in a 2-1 decision...in 8.0 innings of work, he allowed 3 hits, a Shawn Green solo homer and 2 walks while striking out 9 batters.

2000

After missing more than a year due to reconstructive right elbow surgery, Kerry returned to the Cubs and went 8-7 with a 4.80 ERA in 23 starts ... fanned 132 batters in 137.0 innings and held opposing batters to a .226 average ... worked at least 6.0 innings in 16 starts -- and at least 7.0 innings 8 times ... opened the season on the disabled list in order to continue his right elbow rehabilitation ... after making 2 starts for Daytona (A) and 1 for Iowa (AAA), he returned to the majors for a May 2 start vs. Houston ... earned the victory that evening in an 11-1 decision, working 6.0 innings and allowing 3 hits, 1 run (a Daryle Ward solo homer) and 4 walks while fanning 4 batters ... on the first pitch he saw as a batter, he hit a 2-run homer off Jose Lima...won 3 straight starts July 16-July 29 -- the first time he had a multi-game winning streak since the surgery ... had his first double-digit strikeout game since the surgery August 27 vs. Los Angeles, fanning 11 batters in 7.0 innings of work ... on September 12 at Cincinnati, he tossed the second complete game of his pro career in a 2-1 victory, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks ... the lone run he surrendered occurred with 1 out in the 9th inning - when Alex Ochoa homered ... over his final 5 starts, he allowed 7 earned runs in 30.1 innings (2.08 ERA) while fanning 31 batters ... the lone blemish over that span was a career-low 1.1-inning stint September 22 vs. St. Louis in which he walked 8 batters ... in his next -- and final -- start of the season September 27 vs. Philadelphia, he fanned 10 batters in 8.0 innings and picked up the win in a 1-0 contest ... was on the disabled list July 30-August 21 due to a left oblique strain ... also was on the suspended list September 8-September 10 as a result of his actions during an August 27 contest against Los Angeles ... due to the muscle strain, he batted left-handed (for the first time since high school) in his August 22 and August 27 starts ... in the August 27 affair, he had an infield hit batting left-handed off Los Angeles' Ismael Valdes.

1999

Kerry missed the entire season after undergoing surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow ... the surgery was performed on April 8 by Dr. James Andrews ... during the reconstructive elbow surgery, his torn ligament was repaired and wrapped with a graft from his right forearm ... made his only start of the campaign during a spring contest March 13, pitching 1.1 innings against Anaheim.

1998

Kerry burst onto the national scene during his rookie campaign, becoming just the fourth Cubs player-and the club's first pitcher-to win the Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year Award ... went 13-6 with 233 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA in 26 starts ... ranked 3rd in the N.L. in strikeouts ... led the league in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (12.6) and in opponents' batting average against (.196) ... struck out the side 11 times and fanned 2 batters in an inning 66 times ... had nine double-digit strikeout games ... his strikeout total set the Cubs' 20th-century rookie record, surpassing the 225 recorded by Tom Hughes in 1901 ... was the first Cub to reach the 200-strikeout mark since Fergie Jenkins in 1971 (263) ... made his M.L. debut April 12 at Montreal after the Cubs purchased his contract from Iowa (AAA) and took the loss in a 4-1 decision ... struck out 7 batters in 4.2 innings-including the first batter he faced (Mark Grudzielanek) ... picked up his first M.L. win in his Wrigley Field debut April 18 against Los Angeles (8-1) ... in the Cubs' 8-run 1st inning, he recorded his first big league hit and RBI (off Hideo Nomo) ... thanks to his 20-strikeout game May 6 vs. Houston, he earned N.L. Player of the Week honors for May 4-May 10 ... in a 9-4 win over Philadelphia June 20, he homered off the Phillies' Matt Beech ... set the Cubs' 20th-century single-season rookie strikeout record in his final start of the season August 31 vs. Cincinnati, fanning Brett Tomko for strikeout No. 226 ... two innings later, he hit a 2-run homer off Tomko ... missed the last month of the regular season due to a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow ... returned to the mound in the Division Series, as he started Game 3 against Atlanta ... took the loss in a 6-2 decision despite allowing just 1 run and 3 hits in 5.0 innings.

1997

Went 10-9 with a 4.57 ERA in a combined 29 starts for Orlando (AA) and Iowa ... in 151.2 innings, he struck out an organization-high 186 batters while holding opposing batters to a .181 average (93-514) ... was selected as the top prospect in the American Association by Baseball America.

1996

Led the Cubs' farm system in strikeouts in his first full professional season, fanning 136 batters in 114.1 innings at Daytona (A) ... went 10-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 22 starts ... was named the top prospect in the Florida State League and the Cubs organization's Player of the Year by Baseball America ... finished in the top 5 among minor league starters in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (10.7) and batting average against (.179).

1995

Made one start for Rookie-League Fort Myers and two for Single-A Williamsport in his first pro season.