St. Louis Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright pitches after year and a half – MLB News
The St. Louis Cardinals’ starter Adam Wainwright had the first pitching spell of this season on Friday, March 9, after what seemed a painfully endless year of surgery. The last time he pitched for the Cardinals was back in September 2010.
Wainwright was victim to an unanticipated elbow injury on his throwing arm, rendering him completely unable to throw even a single pitch in 2011. The doctors recommended Tommy John reconstructive surgery that he could not refuse.
However, on Friday, against the Minnesota Twins, Adam Wainwright was in his element; throwing two hitless innings with fastballs touching 93 MPH.
Wainwright had to toil extremely hard to achieve the kind of fitness, power and effectiveness he put on display in Friday’s game.
This phenomenal improvement after a year of recovery fills him joy.
"I've never taken that kind of stuff to a mound in Spring Training," Wainwright said. "It's usually during the season when I bring stuff like that. So I was happy with the way it was coming out."
While Wainwright seemed content with the performance he showed, the team as a whole did not think otherwise. For the team manager, the overwhelming issue to behold, was the demeanour of the pitcher; competing and relentless.
“He was pitching," manager Mike Matheny said. "He was competing. You could tell from the second he took the mound, just look at him. Look at his eyes, look at his demeanour. There was nothing getting in the way of him competing. These guys, this is what
they do....”
Coming after over 500 days absence, Wainwright did not for a second seem someone who had nursed any injury. The speed unleashed in Friday’s encounter against the Minnesota Twins goes to show that the Cardinals’ defence is ever stronger now.
Once the regular season formally kicks off and Wainwright takes the mound, it will be no less than a nightmare for many a hitter to face this accomplished starter. Thus fans wait with bated breath for the phenomenal pitcher to thrill them with sensational
throwing to win victories for the Cardinals. It will be exciting to see what impact Wainwright will have for the Cardinals as the regular season starts.
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