Jupiter, FL (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals announced Thursday
that pitcher Adam Wainwright will need Tommy John surgery, ending his 2011
season before it begins.
The news comes a day after the 29-year-old Georgia native left spring training
to have his right elbow examined in St. Louis. He apparently felt pain while
throwing on Monday.
Wainwright was 20-11 with a 2.42 earned run average in 33 starts last season,
finishing second to Philadelphia's Roy Halladay in the Cy Young voting. He
missed his final scheduled turn in 2010 because of a forearm strain, which
could be related to the current problem.
Wainwright helped the Cardinals to the World Series title in 2006 as a
reliever, notching four saves in the postseason. He moved into the starting
rotation in 2007 and has posted a record of 64-34 in 119 starts over the past
four seasons.
The Sports Network