Kerry Wood, who announced earlier today that he planned to retire following today’s game, struck out the last batter he faced in his career.

A great moment: Kerry Wood comes in and strikes out the last hitter he faces, and then walks off to a standing ovation –greeted by his son.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 18, 2012

Wood came to the mound in the top of the eighth to relieve Jeff Smardzija. He faced one batter, Dayn Viciedo, struck him out, and left the mound to a standing ovation.

Wood, 34, broke onto the scene in Chicago in 1998 when he posted a 13-6 record with a 3.40 ERA and 233 strikeouts in just 166.2 innings of work. He won the Rookie of the Year that season, but also gained notoriety for striking out 20 batters in one game.

Wood did not pitch in 1999 due to an arm injury, but bounced back from 2001-2003 as a major force in a Cubs rotation that featured him and fellow young hurler Mark Prior. During that three-year span, Wood collected 12 or more wins, posted an ERA below 3.66, and struck out at least 217 batters in each season.

The hurler’s arm injuries later returned and he was forced to become a relief pitcher for the remainder of his career. Last year for Chicago, Wood posted a 3.35 ERA in 55 appearances.

Chicago Cubs hurler Kerry Wood has announced that he will retire today, sources have told ESPN Chicago.

Wood, 34, broke onto the scene in Chicago in 1998 when he posted a 13-6 record with a 3.40 ERA and 233 strikeouts in just 166.2 innings of work. He won the Rookie of the Year that season, but also gained notoriety for striking out 20 batters in one game.

GALLERY: BIGGEST SPORTS RETIREMENTS OF 2012

Wood did not pitch in 1999 due to an arm injury, but bounced back from 2001-2003 as a major force in a Cubs rotation that featured him and fellow young hurler Mark Prior. During that three-year span, Wood collected 12 or more wins, posted an ERA below 3.66, and struck out at least 217 batters in each season.

The hurler’s arm injuries later returned and he was forced to become a relief pitcher for the remainder of his career. Last year for Chicago, Wood posted a 3.35 ERA in 55 appearances.

The Chicago Cubs have put right-handed reliever Kerry Wood on the disabled list with right shoulder fatigue, according to Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune.

Wood, who re-signed with the Cubs in January, has had an absolutely dreadful start to his 2012 season, posting an ERA of 11.57 in four appearances. He already has one loss and one blown save.

Wood’s stint on the DL will retroactively begin last Saturday, so he’ll be eligible to return on Sunday, April 29.

Lefty reliever Scott Maine has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa to fill Wood’s roster spot.

The Chicago Cubs and pitcher Kerry Wood have agreed to a deal, according to David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com.

Kerry Wood has agreed to a deal who stay with the Cubs. Insane ovation at the Cubs Convention as the great Pat Hughes announces the deal.—
David Kaplan (@thekapman) January 13, 2012

The deal is reportedly one year and worth $3 million, according to Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Wood deal one year, 3mil plus a club option.—
  (@cst_cubs) January 13, 2012

Wood has spent 11 total seasons with the Cubs, with stints in Cleveland and with the New York Yankees sandwiched in between. He made the transition from starter to reliever after the 2006 season. He appeared in 55 games last season with a 3.35 ERA and 21 holds.

Kerry Wood had a happy, healthy and productive return to the Chicago Cubs in 2011, throwing 51 innings in middle relief for the team that gave him his first shot in the major leagues back in 1998. But Wood is no lock to return to the North Side in 2012 — ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that the Phillies are among the clubs with interest in the 34-year-old righthander.

Kerry Wood is on the #Phillies radar as a possible late-inning relief option -- if he doesn't re-sign with the #Cubs.

—
Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) January 08, 2012

The Phillies’ quest for a setup man is currently in limbo, however, as they await news on the recovery of 40-year-old Jose Contreras from September elbow surgery. If Contreras doesn’t show progress in the coming weeks, the Phils may intensify their pursuit of Wood.

Wood posted a 3.35 ERA as a middle reliever for the Cubs last season. He accepted a team-friendly one-year, $1.5 million contract to return to Chicago.