On Friday, veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright will take another step toward recovery and his eventual return to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 41-year-old will throw a bullpen session at Busch Stadium and will throw to live hitters for the first time since spring training.
According to Wainwright himself, things are going much better than they were in spring training.
In fact, as much as Wainwright didn’t want to admit it, he believes that the time off has really helped him get back in shape and get fully prepared for the 2023 season.
He went 11-12 last season and posted a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts.
On Thursday, the two-time World Series champion and three-time All-Star commented on his recovery and the way things are going for him at the moment.
#STLCards RHP Adam Wainwright, who will face hitters today, on his time away:
“I didn’t want to admit that I needed a little [IL] time… but sometimes things happen for a reason. This has given me a chance to get better & more prepared for the season.” https://t.co/vxagd9MCCa
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 14, 2023
In spring training, Wainwright was dealing with a whole host of issues.
The right-hander dealt with a bout of back spasms and also struggled with his velocity thanks to a glute issue.
Late last season, he was hit with a come-backer in the knee against the Atlanta Braves, which caused him to inadvertently shorten his stride when pitching.
His September struggles ultimately cost him his spot in the postseason rotation and he did not pitch in the Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
But it seems as though Wainwright has put several of those issues behind him and has taken full advantage of the time off.
Wainwright says he feels stronger heading into the 2023 season.
The three-time All-Star is set to return in late April, though a specific date has not been set just yet.
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