The ageless wonder struck again last night.
After a rocky start in San Diego, Adam Wainwright took the mound for the Cardinals on Sunday night and held the rival Cubs to just one hit over eight scoreless innings. The veteran right-handler took a no-decision in St. Louis’ 2-1 extra-inning loss, but once again showed that age is just a number when it comes to pitching in the big leagues.
Three years ago on Mother’s Day, Wainwright came off the injured list to start his first game in almost a month. He had been on the IL twice in 2017 due to an elbow injury that had resurfaced in 2018 and landed him back on the list. He was in the final year of his contract, and was desperate to prove he could still pitch despite his age and various injuries. He was even off to a solid start, pitching to a 3.45 ERA in his first three starts.
But during that bullpen session in San Diego, he re-aggravated that same elbow that had caused him trouble over the past few seasons, and one that had already been through Tommy-John Surgery in 2011. Like the competitor he is, he tried to pitch through it, but reached 70 pitches in just the third inning, with his fastball topping off at roughly 85 MPH. Then-manager Mike Matheny pulled him from the start, and once again, the former ace took a trip to the IL, his sixth in the last four seasons.
All signs pointed to him being done; his last career start having been one where he barely made it through two innings and re-injured that elbow that had given him fits for years. And that was a sentiment that even he agreed with. A guy who had won 20 games twice for the Cards, finished in the top 3 for the NL Cy Young four times, and had closed out the 2006 World Series, believed it was over.
But something changed when he was playing catch with reliever Dominic Leone, who was also on the injured list. Wainwright was helping him rebuild his arm strength and prepare for a late 2018 return. After making a throw from a different arm angle, Wainwright noticed that he felt no pain in his elbow. And that slightest adjustment gave the right-handler faith that his career was in fact, not over.
And that faith ultimately rewarded him with a September return. With his fastball reaching the 90s again, “Uncle Charlie” as they call him, started four games that month, twice pitching through at least six innings. The Cardinals took note of that and ultimately brought him back on a one-year deal for the 2019 season.
And sure enough, the Cardinals legend returned to form, going 14-10 with a 4.19 ERA and earning yet another one-year deal back with the team. Last year, he was the team’s unlikely ace, going 5-3 and pitching to a 3.15 ERA in the COVID-shortened season. After an outbreak of the virus within the clubhouse caused a 17-day layoff, Wainwright started the first game back against the White Sox, pitching five innings and allowing just one run.
And once again, his resurgence earned him another contract with the Cardinals for the 2021 season. After a nightmare start in Cincinnati to open the season, Wainwright looks to be back on track, sporting a 3.95 ERA in his first nine starts, once again proving to us that age is only a number.
Wainwright is on track to turn 40 this August, but is showing no signs of slowing down, and with Miles Mikolas returning to the injured list after just one start, the Cardinals will rely heavily on Old Uncle Charlie from this point on.
