| Adam Wainwright | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Wainwright with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1981-08-30)August 30, 1981 (age 44) Brunswick, Georgia, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| September 11, 2005, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| October 1, 2023, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 200–128 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.53 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 2,202 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Adam Parrish Wainwright (born August 30, 1981), nicknamed "Waino" and "Uncle Charlie",[1][2] is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher who spent his entire 18-yearMajor League Baseball (MLB) career with theSt. Louis Cardinals.
TheAtlanta Braves selected Wainwright 29th overall in the first round of the2000 MLB draft fromGlynn Academy inBrunswick, Georgia. His performance in theminor leagues made him one of the Braves' top pitching prospects. After the 2003 season, the Braves traded him to the Cardinals foroutfielderJ. D. Drew.
Wainwright made his MLB debut on September 11, 2005, and spent the rest of the season as arelief pitcher. The next year, he briefly assumedcloser duties,saving the series-clinching games of the2006 National League Championship Series and theWorld Series over theDetroit Tigers. In 2007, he returned to starting pitching, a role in which he would remain for the rest of his career. He missed the 2011 season due toTommy John surgery, but emerged as anace, leading theNational League multiple times inwins,innings pitched, andgames started. He also has multiple top-ten finishes inearned run average,strikeouts,walks plus hits per inning pitched, andcomplete games. In 2014, Wainwright became the first pitcher in major league history to post nine of his first 18 starts with seven innings pitched and no runs allowed. In his career, Wainwright won 200 games, received threeAll-Star selections and twoGold Glove Awards, and finished in the top three in theCy Young Award balloting four times.
With 2,202 career strikeouts, Wainwright is second toBob Gibson (3,117)[3] in Cardinalsfranchise history. Wainwright and longtime teammateYadier Molina are the most successfulbattery in major league history, having both the most wins and starts together.
On September 18, 2023, Wainwright became the third Cardinals' pitcher to win 200 games, joiningBob Gibson (251), andJesse Haines (210), and the 122nd in baseball history. That day, he also became the 66th pitcher in baseball history with at least 2,200 strikeouts.
Wainwright was born inBrunswick, Georgia. His father was an attorney, and his mother was a real estate agent.[4] His parents divorced when he was seven years old, and his father moved toFlorida, leaving Wainwright's mother to raise him and his older brother, who grew up to become an attorney inAtlanta.[4][5] Wainwright credits his older brother with teaching him everything he knows about sports after their father left, including building a pitcher's mound in their back yard to teach him how to pitch.[4][5] Wainwright also participated in the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and numerous church activities. He grew up anAtlanta Braves fan.[4][5]
Wainwright attended high school atGlynn Academy in Brunswick, where he was an athletic and academic standout.[5] With afastball over 90 mph and batting average at times over .500, Wainwright was namedGatorade Georgia Player of the Year in 2000.[4] He also played football, in which he was named to the All-State team as awide receiver his junior and senior years as well as All-Region honors as a placekicker.[4] Several universities, includingGeorgia Tech, offered him academic and baseball scholarships.[5]
TheAtlanta Braves selected Wainwright 29th overall in the first round of the2000 MLB draft, using a compensatory pick from theArizona Diamondbacks for signingRuss Springer in the offseason. Wainwright chose to forgo college, signing a contract that included a $1.25 million bonus. The Braves had been his favorite team growing up. Less than two weeks after high school graduation, Wainwright reported to the Braves rookie team and soon advanced to Atlanta's Class ADanville Braves in theAppalachian League. He pitched for theMacon Braves in theSouth Atlantic League in 2001, where he broke the team record for strikeouts, previously held byBruce Chen, with 184.[4][6]
Wainwright spent the 2002 season in theCarolina League and also participated in that season'sAll-Star Futures Game. In 2003, Wainwright advanced to the Double-AGreenville Braves.[4] He wasBaseball America's top Braves prospect in 2003.[6][7]
In December 2003, theSt. Louis Cardinals acquired Wainwright and pitchersJason Marquis andRay King in a trade that sent outfielderJ. D. Drew andutility playerEli Marrero to Atlanta.[8]
Wainwright pitched just 12 games for theTriple-AMemphis Redbirds in 2004 before he was shut down for nearly the entire rest of the season with anelbowstrain. He had a 4–4win–loss record (W–L) with a 5.37earned run average (ERA) in63+2⁄3innings pitched (IP). He struck out 64 batters and allowed 68hits and 28 walks (BB). In theArizona Fall League, he returned to pitch 10 innings. He spent the next season with Memphis, starting 29 games, going 10–10 and allowing 204 hits and 51 walks while striking out 147 in 182 innings. After two somewhat uneven seasons in the Cardinals' minor league system, Wainwright made his MLB debut for St. Louis on September 11,2005.[6][9]
Wainwright made the Cardinals' Opening Day roster as a relief pitcher after having been a starter for his entire minor league career. On May 24,2006, he hit ahome run on the first pitch he saw asbatter in the major leagues against theSan Francisco Giants'Noah Lowry; he became the 22nd batter, and only the seventhpitcher, in Major League history and 11th National Leaguer to hit a home run off the first pitch thrown in his first at-bat.[10]
Wainwright pitched capably as amiddle reliever, but when incumbentcloserJason Isringhausen underwent season-ending hip surgery in September, Wainwright was pressed into service as the closer. He saved two crucial games on September 27 and 30 as St. Louis held off theHouston Astros' late charge and won theNL Central Division championship. Despite their unexceptional 83–78 regular-season record, the Cardinals rolled through October to win the10th world championship in franchise history. As the closer, Wainwright closed out the final game of the Cardinals' National League Division Series, ending theNew York Mets' season and propelling the Cardinals to the2006 National League Championship Series, where he famously struck outCarlos Beltrán inGame 7 to send the Cardinals to theWorld Series.[11] InGame 5 of the2006 World Series, Wainwright struck outDetroit Tigersthird basemanBrandon Inge to win the championship.[12]
Wainwright moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation for2007. Shortly after losing aceChris Carpenter for the year due to elbow surgery, Wainwright emerged as the Cardinals' most reliable starter. On August 10, he threw the first complete game of his career, a 2–1 loss toLos Angeles, and the only nine-inning complete game for the Cardinals that season. By September, Wainwright had established himself as the staff ace in Carpenter's absence, going 9–6 with a 2.94 ERA from mid-May to the end of the season. He finished his first year by leading the club in almost every pitching category—games started, innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins—while compiling a 3.70 ERA and a 14–12 record. His 14 wins were the most in franchise history for a first-year starter. His 2.71 ERA after the All-Star break was third-best in the NL.[13]
In March 2008, Wainwright signed a four-year deal with the Cardinals worth $21 million, with two club options for 2012 and 2013 that made the potential aggregate value $36 million.[14] He gave up four runs or less in each of his first seven starts. However, the Cardinals lost to theBrewers 8–3 in Wainwright's eighth start, on May 13, asRyan Braun hit two home runs off him.[15] He suffered a strain on the middle finger of his pitching hand in June, causing him to miss2+1⁄2 months of the season. In 20 starts, he finished 11–3 with a 3.20 ERA.[16]
On August 19,2009, atDodger Stadium, Wainwright had ano-hitter going against theLos Angeles Dodgers for5+1⁄3 innings beforeOrlando Hudson broke it up with a clean single to left field. In his next start against theAstros, he pitched eight shutout innings to pick up his then-league-leading 15th win in a 1–0 victory. It was Wainwright's 25th straight start with at least six innings pitched. In five August starts that season, he completed35+2⁄3 IP with just one walk and 22 SO.[17] On September 26, Wainwright pitched eight innings and struck out eleven for a 6–3, NL Central division-clinching victory against theColorado Rockies atCoors Field for his 19th win.[18] Wainwright finished with a 19–8 record and a 2.63 ERA, leading the National League in wins, games started (34), and innings pitched (233).[19] He also struck out a major-league high 140 batters on third-strike curveballs.[7]
On October 28, Wainwright won thePlayers Choice Award as theNL Most Outstanding Pitcher.[20] He won his firstGold Glove Award on November 11.[21] Wainwright was a top contender for theCy Young Award along with teammateChris Carpenter and eventual winnerTim Lincecum. He became only the second pitcher ever, afterTrevor Hoffman in 1998, to receive the most first-place votes but not win the award.[note 1][23]
Pitching in his firstAll-Star Game, Wainwright pitched one inning. He faced five batters and allowed no runs with just one hit—a double off the glove of fellow CardinalMatt Holliday—one walk, and two strikeouts.[24] In one 11-game stretch preceding August 16, he compiled66+1⁄3 IP in nine of those starts and allowed two earned runs for a 0.27 ERA.[25]
Wainwright finished the2010 season 20–11 with a 2.42 ERA, five complete games, 213 strikeouts, 56 walks, 15 home runs allowed, and a WHIP of 1.05, in230+1⁄3 IP. His win, strikeout, complete game, and shutout totals were all career-bests. His win total and ERA were both good for second place in the National League (behind onlyJosh Johnson's 2.30 ERA andRoy Halladay's 21 wins). He also pitched the first two shutouts of his career in 2010—one against theMilwaukee Brewers on June 4 and a two-hitter against theFlorida Marlins on August 6.[26][27]
Wainwright was the runner-up for the Cy Young Award, finishing second in voting behind unanimous winner Halladay. Wainwright picked up 28 of 32 second-place votes.[28] Near the end of the season, he had experienced elbow discomfort and nerve swelling. Amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan cleared him after the season.[29]
Shortly after reporting to spring training, Wainwright experienced discomfort in his rightelbow while pitchingbatting practice on February 21. Three days later, the Cardinals announced that Wainwright would miss the entire2011 season—and possibly the first three months of the next season—after finding thatulnar collateral ligament damage necessitatedTommy John surgery. George Paletta, the team physician, performed the surgery on February 28 inSt. Louis and it was deemed "a success".[30] Former clients for the same surgery included teammatesChris Carpenter,Jaime García, andKyle McClellan.[31][32] Wainwright's contract featured options for 2012 and 2013 totaling $21 million with a provision that they would not automatically vest if he ended the 2011 season on thedisabled list.[33]
The Cardinals made the playoffs as awild cardentry, overtaking theBraves on the final day of the season.[34] They eventually won theWorld Series, defeating theTexas Rangers four games to three. The Cardinals awarded Wainwright his secondWorld Series ring, despite not pitching the entire season.
Fully recovered after surgery and rehabilitation, Wainwright was ready ahead of schedule for spring training. Statistically, the2012 season proved to be an overall disappointment by Wainwright's standards, as he wound up 14–13 with a 3.94 ERA. However, it was encouraging in regards to the health of his right arm, as he completed the entire season without any issues. In addition, pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery often find it challenging at first to throw with the same command as before the surgery, and thus to achieve post-surgery results equal to pre-surgery results. This was the case at first with Wainwright.[35]
On May 22, he threw his first complete-game shutout since August 6, 2010, and the third of his career in his ninth complete game. It was a four-hit, 4–0 win at home against theSan Diego Padres, striking out nine and walking only one.[36] Wainwright reached his 1,000th career inning on July 29.[37] The May 22 start marked a turning point in the season. During a 13-start stretch through August 3, he pitched85+2⁄3 innings, striking out 83 while allowing just four home runs and 17 BB. Wainwright attributed the improvement to be able to sustain the usual finishing movement on his pitches through late innings, which earlier in the season, had eluded him, thus making his pitches easier to hit. He also corrected a subtle flaw that had developed on the grip of his curveball during a bullpen session prior to the start against San Diego. The flaw made it increasingly difficult to throw the curveball for consistent strikes.[38]
On March 28,2013, the Cardinals announced they and Wainwright had agreed to a five-year contract extension. At the time, he was under the last year of his previous contract, so the new deal extended him through 2018. With a total value of $97.5 million, it was the largest contract ever for a Cardinals pitcher.[39] On April 18, he became the first pitcher in baseball since 1900 to achieve 28 strikeouts and zero walks in his first four starts of a season.[40][41]Slim Sallee established the franchise record exactly100 years earlier by not issuing a walk in his first 40 innings.[42] Wainwright's streak ended in a start atWashington on April 23 after34+2⁄3 innings and 133 batters faced.[43]
The first MLB pitcher to post 10 wins on June 13, Wainwright put up seven scoreless innings in a 2–1 defeat of theMets atCiti Field. Moreover, his strikeout ofDavid Wright was his first of the game and the 1,000th of his career. He allowed six hits and struck out a total of four.[44] Wainwright became the NLPitcher of the Month for June with a 4–2 record and 1.77 ERA. With 40 strikeouts for the month, Wainwright issued just six walks while holding opposing batters to a .220 average. Through that point in the season, he was 11–5 with a 2.22 ERA, and was the MLB leader with four complete games and a 9.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.[45]
In successive starts against theReds in late August, Wainwright allowed 15 runs, both losses. He struck out eight in seven shutout innings on September 7 at home in a 5–0 win over the first-placePirates in earning his 16th victory of the season. The Pirates, Reds, and Cardinals were all close contenders for the Central division title in September. The win gave the Cardinals first place over the Pirates by a half-game, and1+1⁄2 games over the Reds.[46] Wainwright's seven strikeouts increased his career total to 1,103, passingDizzy Dean (1,095) for second place among Cardinals' pitchers. OnlyBob Gibson (3,117 in 528 games) had more.[47]
In a 60-inning stretch following the All-Star break Wainwright had walked 14, compared with 15 in146+2⁄3 IP before the break.[48] When fellow starterShelby Miller defeated Nationals' starterJordan Zimmermann on September 26, he denied Zimmermann his 20th victory.[49] Two days later, Wainwright, who was second in the league with 18 entering the game, defeated theChicago Cubs in his final start of the season to tie Zimmerman for the lead in wins at 19. Wainwright also became just the third pitcher in franchise history to twice lead the league in wins, joiningDizzy Dean (1934–35) andMort Cooper (1942–43).[50] He also led the NL in games started (34), innings pitched (241+2⁄3), hits allowed (223), and batters faced (956), and was third in strikeouts.[51]
The Cardinals faced theBoston Red Sox in theWorld Series, and called upon Wainwright to start Game 1 againstJon Lester. It was Wainwright's first World Series appearance since 2006 and first start. He allowed five runs and St. Louis lost, 8–1.[51] In Game 5, a rematch against Lester, the Cardinals again lost, this time 3–1. Wainwright struck out 10 in seven innings, becoming the first Cardinal to reach double digits in strikeouts in a World Series game sinceGibson against theDetroit Tigers in1968.[52] After the Cardinals took a 2–1 Series lead, the Red Sox won the final three games to take the title.[53]
Wainwright won his second Gold Glove award in 2013.[54] In the Cy Young balloting, Wainwright placed second, his second such ranking, and finished 23rd in the NL MVP voting.[55][56]
Starting for the Cardinals against theReds on Opening Day, March 31, 2014, Wainwright won his 100th career decision. In seven innings, he struck out nine and gave up just three singles in a 1–0 win.[57] AtNationals Park againstWashington on April 17, he pitched a two-hit shutout, winning 8–0. Wainwright gave up the first hit in the second inning on a high infield chopper, but none after until two outs into the ninth. He walked three and struck out eight. It was his seventh career shutout.[58] In an April 27 start against thePirates, Wainwright tallied eight scoreless innings to extend a streak to 25 innings as the Cardinals won, 7–0, but was pulled before he could get a complete game due to concerns over his April 22 hyperextended right knee injury.[59] His streak of 25 scoreless innings ended in the first inning on May 2 in a loss against theCubs, to whom he allowed six runs.[60]
On May 20, Wainwright pitched a one-hitter against theDiamondbacks. He retired the first 11 batters before giving up adouble toPaul Goldschmidt in the fourth inning. After the hit, Wainwright retired the final 16 batters, facing only 28, one over the minimum for aperfect game. He walked none and struck out nine, throwing 115 pitches, 86 for strikes. It was Wainwright's seventh win of the year, tying for theNational League lead, and his 106th career victory against 59 losses. It also tied him for eighth place with Sallee on the all-time Cardinals' pitching win list and was his eighth career shutout.[61] Wainwright followed that effort with eight more scoreless innings on May 25. Between those two starts, he gave up just one walk and struck out a major-league-leading 21 batters in 17 scoreless innings. He was namedNL Co-Player of the Week withDodgers starterJosh Beckett, who threw ano-hitter on May 25.[62][63] However, he missed his June 16 against theMets due to elbowtendinitis, but an MRI showed no structural damage to the Tommy John surgically repaired ligament.[64]
After leading the NL with a 1.79 ERA and 11 wins through July 6, Wainwright was selected to his thirdAll-Star Game atTarget Field inMinneapolis,Minnesota. He was selected as the NL's starting pitcher for the first time in his career.[65][66][67] Besides two starts in which he gave up seven runs to the Giants and six to the Cubs, Wainwright had allowed 13 runs in 16 of his first 18 starts. Nine of those starts included totals with seven or more innings pitched and zero earned runs allowed. Per theElias Sports Bureau (ESB), it was the first time in Major League history that any pitcher achieved that feat in his first 18 starts of the season.[68]
When the Cardinals defeated theBrewers 10–2 on July 12, Wainwright finished his pre-All Star break total with a 12–4 record and a 1.83 ERA. Further, he joinedHall of Fame memberSteve Carlton as the only Cardinals to post an ERA less than 2.00 and at least 12 wins before the All-Star break (1969). In that game, Wainwright posted his Major League-leading 15th start of the season with at least seven innings pitched and two or fewer runs allowed.[69] At the plate, hisRBI-single scored rookieOscar Taveras for his 100th career hit.[70]
In the All-Star Game, Wainwright incurred controversy over his remarks about facingleadoff hitterDerek Jeter. Jeter, who was retiring after the season, doubled on Wainwright's second pitch of the game. During interviews, he admitted that he gave Jeter an easy pitch to hit. "I was gonna give him a couple of pipe shots. He deserved it," Wainwright said. "I didn’t know he was gonna hit a double or I might have changed my mind." Wainwright later recanted, stating that it was in humor and that he was "not intentionally giving up hits out there".[71]
Conversely, Jeter was appreciative. "He grooved them? The first one was a little cutter that he threw down and away. He probably assumed I was swinging. So he didn't groove the first one. The second was about 90, a two-seamer that stayed on a really good ... No, I don't know, man," he paused and smiled, drawing laughs from reporters. "I have no idea. If he grooved it, thank you. You still got to hit it."[72]
Following the All-Star break, Wainwright temporarily struggled to keep the consistency of the first half of the season due to frequent elbow irritation. In June, he gave up just four earned runs in 31 IP for a 1.16 ERA, and followed that up with a 1.62 ERA in July. His results reversed in August when he allowed 22 ER in38+1⁄3 IP for a 5.17 ERA. However, in September, he posted a 1.38 ERA in 39 IP with 29 SO and a 5–0 W–L.[73] He was subsequently named the NL Pitcher of the Month for September.[74]
After the season, Wainwright had a procedure to remove part of the cartilage of the right elbow on October 24. At times—commencing in June—he had altered his mechanics to mitigate the discomfort. In his third-to-last and second-to-last starts of the season—which were in theNLDS against theDodgers andNLCS against theGiants—Wainwright was unable to complete five innings in both starts. This led to speculation Wainwright was pitching with pain, which he denied.[75]
Through the 2014 season he had a career 132ERA+, third-highest for an active pitcher who has a minimum of 1,000 innings, and a .643winning percentage, fourth-highest for active pitchers.[76][77] Wainwright finished third in the Cy Young voting for 2014, his third such placing, and fourth time he was positioned in the top three.[78]
TheCardinals selected Wainwright to make his fourth career Opening Day start, and the season-opening game for MLB in 2015, in what was also the first-ever MLB Opening Night game. He was credited with the win as the Cardinals defeated theCubs atWrigley Field, 3–0.[79] On April 25, Wainwright left the game against theBrewers in the top of the fifth after suffering an ankle injury while batting. The next day, the Cardinals placed him on the 15-day disabled list,[80] and announced the following day that he had anAchilles tendon rupture and would likely miss the remainder of the season.[81] He underwent successful surgery to repair the tendon on April 30.[82]
With a recovery initially expected to take nine to twelve months,[83] Wainwright had made four appearances through that point in the season, going 2–1 with a 1.44 ERA. As the season progressed, he consistently stated his goal was to return to pitching before the end of the season. After working diligently to accelerate his recovery, the Cardinals announced on September 21 that he was cleared to resume baseball activities, two weeks prior to the conclusion of the regular season.[84] His actual recovery took five months.[83]
Making his first appearance of the season since April, Wainwright pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the first game of adoubleheader against Pittsburgh on September 30, an 8–2 loss. It was his first relief appearance since the 2006 World Series.[85] Wainwright was named theHutch Award winner for 2015.[86]
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The Cardinals announced before spring training that Wainwright would be the Opening Day starter in2016, his fifth time. For the three previous seasons, he had gone 41–19 with a 2.61 ERA.[87] For the second consecutive season, the Cardinals opened the MLB season, this time atPNC Park against thePittsburgh Pirates on April 3. The Cardinals lost the game, 4–1, with Wainwright taking the first loss of the season.[88] He hit his first home run of season in a 10–3 win over thePhiladelphia Phillies on May 2, also being credited with his second win.[89] In each of four consecutive plate appearances spanning April 27 to May 7, he became the first Cardinal pitcher since 1900 to garner an extra base hit while batting, perElias Sports Bureau.[90] On the mound, he struggled early, yielding a 5.04 ERA in his first 16 starts of the season.[91]
Wainwright pitched a three-hit, complete-game shutout and 5−0 win againstMiami on July 15, 2016; the first hit he allowed was a double toAdeiny Hechavarria in the sixth inning.[92] With four RBI againstColorado on September 20, Wainwright increased his season total to 18, the highest total for all pitchers in thedesignated hitter era – since 1973 – and the most sinceFerguson Jenkins drove in 20 for the Cubs in1971.[93]
On April 21,2017, Wainwright struck out nine and hit a home run with four RBI as the Cardinals defeated theMilwaukee Brewers, 6−3.[94] His May 27 appearance was the 330th of his career, tying him withLarry Jackson (1955−1962) for tenth place in games pitched for the Cardinals.[95] while passingAl Hrabosky.[96] Wainwright pitched six scoreless innings versusLos Angeles on June 1, while hitting a two-run home run facingBrandon McCarthy, for a 2−0 win.[97]
On July 17, he passedBill Doak for fifth place in wins (145) for the Cardinals.[98] On the same day, Wainwright became the only active major league pitcher with multiple seasons of 10+ RBI (2016–17).[99]
The Cardinals placed Wainwright on the 10-day DL on July 25 due to mid-back tightness, retroactive to July 23. It was the fourth time in his career that he had been placed on the DL.[100] Wainwright was activated from the DL on August 6, and totaled 11 innings in three starts. On August 18, the Cardinals placed him back on the DL for right elbow impingement.[101] Wainwright reported pain in his right elbow for the second consecutive season and displayed a precipitous decline in velocity in his most recent starts. Treatments on the right elbow that Wainwright received during the season included trimming cartilage and an injection ofplatelet-rich plasma into the joint. In 23 games he had started, he allowed a 5.12 ERA with a 12−5 W−L record. Wainwright returned to pitch on September 18 from the bullpen for the remainder of the season.[102]
In 2017, Wainwright won his first careerSilver Slugger Award, the first Cardinal pitcher to win the award sinceBob Forsch (1980 and 1987) andJason Marquis (2005).[103] He batted .262/.279/.452, a career-high .731 OPS, and two home runs. Wainwright led all pitchers with seven runs scored and 11 RBI, and, among all with at least 40 plate appearances, in slugging percentage and OPS. He also hit .462 with runners inscoring position.[97][104]
After the season, Wainwright underwent right elbow surgery to remove a cartilage flap, the first surgery on the elbow since having Tommy John surgery in 2011. The cartilage flap was believed to have caused a bone bruise which led to reduced velocity and efficacy of his breaking pitches. Recovery time was expected to take six weeks with full readiness in time for the 2018 season.[105]
Wainwright began the 2018 season on the 10-daydisabled list with a left hamstring sprain. He was reactivated on April 5 but placed on the disabled list again with right elbow inflammation on April 22. Wainwright was activated once again on May 13 and started that same day against theSan Diego Padres. He gave up two runs and walked six batters in2+1⁄3 innings as San Diego beat St. Louis 5–3. Two days later, Wainwright was placed back on the 10-day DL before being transferred to the 60-day DL on May 17.[106]
Wainwright signed a one-year, $2 million contract extension with the Cardinals prior to the 2019 offseason. On April 24, 2019, Wainwright picked up his 150th win in a 5–2 victory against the Brewers. Over 31 starts during the regular season, he went 14–10 with a 4.19 ERA, striking out 153 over171+2⁄3 innings. In the2019 MLB postseason, Wainwright struck out 19 over16+2⁄3 innings and had a 1.62 ERA.
On November 12, 2019, Wainwright and the Cardinals agreed to a one-year contract for the 2020 season.[107] On his 39th birthday, Wainwright pitched his first complete game since 2016 against theCleveland Indians in a 7–2 win.[108] He pitched a second, albeit 7-inning complete game against theMilwaukee Brewers on September 16.[109] Over 10 starts for the 2020 season, Wainwright went 5–3 with a 3.15 ERA and 54 strikeouts over65+2⁄3 innings.[110]
On January 28, 2021, Wainwright signed a one-year, $8 million contract to stay with theCardinals.[111] On April 26, Wainwright pitched a complete game against thePhiladelphia Phillies in a 2–1 loss asRhys Hoskins hit two solo home runs off him.[112] It was the second such occurrence in his career to pitch a 9-inning complete game and lose since a 2–1 loss to theLos Angeles Dodgers in 2007.[113]
Wainwright picked up his first win of the season in a 6–5 win over theNew York Mets on May 3, while also picking up his 1,000th career strikeout atBusch Stadium; joiningBob Gibson as the only Cardinals pitchers with 1,000 strikeouts at their home ballparks.[114] On June 14, Wainwright picked up his 1,900th strikeout against theMiami Marlins.[115] OnFather's Day, June 20, he pitched his second complete game of the year, albeit 7 innings in the first game of a doubleheader against theAtlanta Braves; striking out 11 while allowing just one run.[116] On August 10, Wainwright pitched his first shutout since 2016, and his first everMaddux against thePittsburgh Pirates atPNC Park in a 4–0 Cardinals win, throwing 88 pitches. At 39, he became the oldest pitcher to record a shutout sinceBartolo Colón in 2015.[117][118] He was subsequently named National League Pitcher of the Month for August after going 5–1 with a 1.45 ERA, striking out 36 while walking just six over 44 innings.[119][120] On September 3, Wainwright started against the Brewers with battery mateYadier Molina, marking their 300th start as abattery. They are the fourth battery in MLB history to make 300 starts. The Cardinals won the game 15–4, with Wainwright picking up the win.[121] While facing theMilwaukee Brewers on September 23, Wainwright recorded his 2,000th career strikeout againstLuis Urías. Wainwright became the second pitcher in franchise history alongsideBob Gibson to reach the milestone.[122][123]
On October 1, the Cardinals and Wainwright agreed on a one-year deal for the 2022 season.[124]
Statistically for 2021, Wainwright had his best season since 2014, going 17–7 with a 3.05 ERA and 174 strikeouts in206+1⁄3 innings.[125] Wainwright was second in MLB in wins (17), third in innings pitched (206+1⁄3), tied for first in complete games (3) and tenth in walks and hits per inning pitched (1.057).[126] He led the major leagues in sacrifice hits, with 14.[127]
Wainwright finished seventh in the 2021 NLCy Young Award voting.[128]
On October 4, 2021, Wainwright and the Cardinals agreed to a one-year, $17.5 million deal for the 2022 season[129]
On April 7, 2022, Wainwright won his 100th game atBusch Stadium onOpening Day in a 9–0 win against thePittsburgh Pirates, pitching six shutout innings with six strikeouts.[130][131] On May 15, 2022, Wainwright and Molina made history claiming their 203rd win together, becoming the most successful battery in MLB history.[132] Later that season on September 14, Wainwright and Molina set another MLB record by starting alongside one another for the 325th time, surpassingMickey Lolich andBill Freehan of theDetroit Tigers for the most starts by a battery.[133]
In November 2022, it was announced that Wainwright intended to represent Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[134]
Wainwright announced that the 2023 season would be his last. On March 30, Wainwright sang the national anthem before the opening day game.[135] In 21 starts for the Cardinals, Wainwright struggled to a 5–11 record and 7.40 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 101.0 innings of work.[136]
On September 18, pitching at home against the division-leadingMilwaukee Brewers, he won his 200th game, 1-0, pitching seven scoreless innings, giving up only four hits, walking two, striking out three. His 2,202 career strikeouts make him the 66th pitcher to have at least 2,200 strikeouts. His 200 wins make him the 122nd pitcher in baseball history to reach that milestone. His 200 wins, all with the Cardinals, rank him third in the team's history, joiningBob Gibson (251) andJesse Haines (210).[137]
At home on September 29, he batted for the first time since October 6,2021. In the sixth inning with the team trailing 14-2, he pinch-hit fordesignated hitterLuken Baker. On the second pitch, he grounded out sharply to second base. It was his only at-bat that night.
Over his career, he had 10 home runs, 75 RBIs, and a .192 batting average. He has five seasons batting over .200.[138] Defensively, he recorded a .982fielding percentage, with only 10 errors in 569total chances, which was 26 points higher than the league average at his position.[139]
Notes:Through 2019 season. PerBaseball-Reference.com.
| Category | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Complete games leader | 2 | 2013, 2021 |
| Home runs per nine innings allowed leader | 1 | 2014 |
| Innings pitched leader | 2 | 2009, 2013 |
| Shutouts leader | 2 | 2013, 2014 |
| Wins champion | 2 | 2009, 2013 |
Wainwright has asinkerball, throwing it in the 90–92 miles per hour (145–148 km/h) range. He also throws a good deal ofcutters 84–88 miles per hour (135–142 km/h) andcurveballs 73–77 miles per hour (117–124 km/h) that have dropped more than 8 inches before from top to bottom of the pitch. Less commonly, he also throws afour-seam fastball 90–95 miles per hour (145–153 km/h) and an 84–86 miles per hour (135–138 km/h)changeup. He uses all of his pitches against left-handed hitters, but he does not use the changeup against right-handers. Wainwright's most-used pitch in two-strike counts is his curveball.[140]
In spring training of 2013, he started incorporating an elevated four-seam fastball, making his curveball more effective.[43]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CAN | ||||
| Hey Y'all[141] | - | - | |||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CAN | ||||
| "Time to Fly" | 2023 | — | — | ||
| "Hey Y'all" | 2024 | — | — | Hey Y'all | |
| "A Song Will Bring You Back" | 2024 | — | — | Hey Y'all | |
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
Afantasy football enthusiast, Wainwright created and hosts a fantasy football network in eight cities called Big League Impact, designed to raise money for various charities. In 2015, the organization raised more than $1 million total. Other major leaguers, includingDavid Wright,Hunter Pence, andJohn Smoltz host in their respective cities.[142]
The concept officially opened in July 2013 with the launch of a website called WainosWorld.com. In an interview withFox Sports Midwest, Wainwright remarked that the program combined his love of fantasy football with his passion for helping the less fortunate. For a registration fee, all of which goes to charity, fans can assemble their own fantasy team and compete throughout the season against not only Wainwright but his current and former Cardinals teammatesAllen Craig,David Freese, andMatt Holliday.[143] Those with the best team records at season's end will receive prizes.[144] The league raised $100,000 in 2013 and supported Operation Food Search andWater Missions International.[145]
Wainwright was the recipient of the 2020Roberto Clemente Award due to his work with Big League Impact alongside his contributions in helping build Haiti's Ferrier Village Secondary School.[146]
With longtime aspirations to host an episode ofSaturday Night Live, Wainwright made hisfilm debut in the 2016comedy-dramaProximity, directed by Dan Steadman and filmed in the St. Louis area. The majority of the work done was completed in 2015, after the opportunity presented to Wainwright due in part to the Achilles tendon injury he had suffered early in the season.[147][148]
Adam Wainwright made his national TV broadcasting debut on October 6, 2020, calling the2020 NLDS between theMiami Marlins andAtlanta Braves onFox Sports 1 along withAdam Amin and former teammateA. J. Pierzynski.[149][150] The trio worked together for the2021 ALDS between the Astros and theChicago White Sox[150] and again in the2023 ALDS between theHouston Astros andMinnesota Twins.[151] Prior to the2024 MLB season, Wainwright was hired as a full time color commentator forFox Sports.[152][153]
On March 30, 2023, Wainwright surprised his teammates by performing thenational anthem prior to the Cardinals' home opener against theToronto Blue Jays. After he accomplished his musical goal, he nervously admitted, "I didn't mess the words up."[154] Wainwright aspires to be acountry music singer after his baseball career concludes; he held a concert inSpringfield, Illinois, in January 2023 for approximately 500 fans.[155]
Wainwright has released three singles and one full-length album,Hey Y'all. It which was originally scheduled to be released on March 9, 2024 when he made hisGrand Ole Opry debut, but was officially released on April 5, 2024.[156][157]
In May 2025,Public Policy Polling, a polling firm affiliated with theDemocratic Party, ran a poll inMissouri's 2nd congressional district gauging voters' interest in Wainwright relative to incumbentRepublican RepresentativeAnn Wagner, suggesting he was being recruited to run in the2026 United States House of Representatives elections.[158]
Wainwright married his high school sweetheart, Jenny Curry, in 2004.[5] In a quirk of fate, he was in the midst of proposing to Curry in December 2003, when a telephone call interrupted him to inform him he'd been traded from the Braves to the Cardinals.[4] Jenny holds a degree in interior design fromGeorgia Southern University. In the off-season, the Wainwrights reside onSt. Simons Island, Georgia, with their four daughters[159] and a son, whom they adopted in 2019.[160] Wainwright has openly expressed hisChristian faith,[145][161] and is active in theFellowship of Christian Athletes.[5]
Media related toAdam Wainwright at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations related toAdam Wainwright at Wikiquote · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | National League Pitcher of the Month June 2013 September 2014 August 2021 | Succeeded by |
