Former Myrtle Beach Pelican and current St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright is “progressing ahead of schedule” in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, according to Tom Ackerman of KMOX 1120 AM.
Wainwright, who pitched for the Advanced Class A Pelicans in the 2002 season, underwent the surgery 11 months ago and is already throwing fastballs, sinkers and curveballs at 90 percent.
The 30-year-old has been working out in Jupiter, Florida for over two weeks at the Cardinals spring training facility and isn’t experiencing any discomfort after throwing sessions. He is expected to be up to full speed before Opening Day.
Wainwright, who became the first former Pelican to win a World Series in 2006, when he closed out the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 to win the world championship. He and fellow former Pelican Rafael Furcal also earned rings last October when the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers, the new parent club of the Pelicans, while Wainwright was on the disabled list recovering from the surgery.
Wainwright has a career record of 66-35 with a 2.97 ERA and rejoins a starting rotation that already boasts Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia.
