Twins' Wood to have season-ending surgery

KANSAS CITY -- Reliever Tim Wood, who hasn't pitched for the Twins this season while battling shoulder injuries, will have season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Aug. 22. The operation will be performed by Dr. Anthony Romeo in Chicago.

Wood, who signed a $675,000 contract with the Twins before the season, initially sustained a right rotator cuff strain in Spring Training and began the year on the 15-day disabled list. He rehabbed at both Class A Advanced Fort Myers and Triple-A Rochester, combining to post an 8.68 ERA in nine games.

The surgery will repair the front of Wood's shoulder, specifically his labrum, according to Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony.

"He just said he still had pain in the front of his shoulder," Antony said. "He just wasn't feeling comfortable throwing. He'll do a pre-op in Fort Myers, and then he'll fly into Chicago and have the surgery and rehab in Fort Myers. You won't see him in a Twins uni this year."

The Twins hoped Wood could carry over his success from Triple-A, as he was named the International League pitcher of the year in 2011 and '12 by Baseball America while pitching in Pittsburgh's organization. But it turns out he won't even throw a single pitch for the Twins this season and is set to be a free agent after the year.

"I believe he wanted to pitch," Antony said. "He was very upset in spring when he got hurt and was trying to make the team. He was disappointed. He had a great year at Triple-A last year and he wanted to capitalize on it. So it's just one of those unfortunate things. Injuries are a tough thing."