Kerry Wood’s journey in Chicago began with the most explosive entrance in baseball history. In 1998, as a 21-year-old rookie, he instantly matured into a national phenomenon by striking out 20 Houston Astros in a single game, a masterpiece of power pitching that many still consider the greatest individual performance ever on a mound. He arrived with a "flamethrower" reputation and quickly evolved into a statistical titan, proving that his raw velocity was matched only by his competitive fire. Despite a career that was later reshaped by injuries, he remained the primary engine of the Cubs' pitching staff during their most competitive runs of the early 2000s.

The absolute pinnacle of his efficiency arrived in 2003, a season in which he stood as the undisputed strikeout king of the National League. Wood led the senior circuit with 266 punchouts that year, earning an All-Star nod and serving as the co-ace of a rotation that marched to within five outs of a World Series berth. He wasn't just a volume-dense starter; he was a high-leverage nightmare who averaged well over a strikeout per inning throughout his entire tenure. He concluded his primary stay with 1,470 strikeouts in just 1,278 innings, a ratio of run suppression that remains a benchmark for power pitchers in the modern era.

Strategic voting. What you have to do when you have too many choices and not enough time or opportunities to realize all those choices.

Sounds like voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame for the last few years, doesn't it?

The good news is that since the Shutout of 2013, when the eligible members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) could not muster the 75 percent of the vote necessary to elect any one ballot candidate to the Hall of Fame despite a wealth of candidates from whom to choose (I counted 14), the BBWAA has sent a dozen players to Cooperstown. Based on that trend, and barring any unusual or unforeseen wrinkle, the writers are certain to elect at least one player for 2018.

So much greatness was expected from Kerry Wood, who won the National League Rookie of the Year in 1998, but he required Tommy John surgery the year after taking him out of the entire 1999 season. Wood would eventually come back and lead the NL in Strikeouts in 2003, but again injuries would pile up. He would a have tow year run as a closer in which he seemed to have found a new role, but he was our of Baseball well before many thought he would be finished. Wood retired with a 86 and 75 record with a 26.7 bWAR.



The Bullet Points:
Country of Origin:
U.S.A. (Irving, TX)

Eligible In:
The 2018 Vote

Position:
Pitcher

Played For:
Chicago Cubs
Cleveland Indians
New York Yankees

Major Accolades and Awards:
Rookie of the Year (NL) (1998)
2 Time All Star (2003 & 2008)
Most Strikeouts (1) (NL) (2003)
World Series Rings (None)

Other Points of Note:
2 Top Ten Finishes (Earned Run Average)
1 Top Ten Finish (WHIP)
4 Top Ten Finishes (Strikeouts)
2 Top Ten Finishes (Complete Games)
1 Top Ten Finish (Saves)
2 Top Ten Finishes (WAR for Pitchers)

Notable All Time Rankings:
42. WHIP: 1.132
72. Strikeouts: 1,988
95. WAR for Pitchers: 50.7