JUPITER, Fla. – Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright will be evaluated in St. Louis Wednesday after feeling pain in his right elbow and the club is preparing to potentially lose its 20-game winner for the 2011 season.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning at the Cardinals spring training complex, General Manager John Mozeliak painted a negative picture on Wainwright's prognosis.
"Just based on the initial evaluation from our training staff, things do not look encouraging," Mozeliak said. "But before we jump to any conclusions, we will wait until the evaluation this afternoon and at that point we will come out with another statement."
Asked if the injury could lead to season-ending Tommy John surgery, Mozeliak said, "I don't want to speculate but obviously ligament damage, that's usually what it results in."
Mozeliak said Wainwright felt pain on his third-to-last pitch of Monday's live batting practice session. He didn't mention anything during a chat with reporters following practice but apparently went to the club with concerns.
Wainwright missed his final start of the 2010 season with a right forearm muscle strain that he said was caused by a rough night of sleep. He pitched through the pain in his final two starts, winning his 20th game of the season at Wrigley Field before being shut down.
When asked if he was concerned the injury was significant, Mozeliak replied, "I do. But again, not being a doctor, I will let them weigh in first."
The right-hander finished second in Cy Young Award voting last year after going 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA.
He was diagnosed with a ligament sprain in his right elbow while pitching in the minor leagues in 2004 but had no reoccurrences of the injury until last September.
"Obviously he's pitched very successfully between then and now but I guess at some point it's just a matter of time," Mozeliak said.
Ace Chris Carpenter missed almost all of the 2007 and 2008 seasons after Tommy John surgery. Starters Jake Westbrook and Jaime Garcia have had the surgery as well.
The Cardinals are expected to update Wainwright's prognosis Wednesday afternoon following his evaluation in St. Louis.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning at the Cardinals spring training complex, General Manager John Mozeliak painted a negative picture on Wainwright's prognosis.
"Just based on the initial evaluation from our training staff, things do not look encouraging," Mozeliak said. "But before we jump to any conclusions, we will wait until the evaluation this afternoon and at that point we will come out with another statement."
Asked if the injury could lead to season-ending Tommy John surgery, Mozeliak said, "I don't want to speculate but obviously ligament damage, that's usually what it results in."
Mozeliak said Wainwright felt pain on his third-to-last pitch of Monday's live batting practice session. He didn't mention anything during a chat with reporters following practice but apparently went to the club with concerns.
Wainwright missed his final start of the 2010 season with a right forearm muscle strain that he said was caused by a rough night of sleep. He pitched through the pain in his final two starts, winning his 20th game of the season at Wrigley Field before being shut down.
When asked if he was concerned the injury was significant, Mozeliak replied, "I do. But again, not being a doctor, I will let them weigh in first."
The right-hander finished second in Cy Young Award voting last year after going 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA.
He was diagnosed with a ligament sprain in his right elbow while pitching in the minor leagues in 2004 but had no reoccurrences of the injury until last September.
"Obviously he's pitched very successfully between then and now but I guess at some point it's just a matter of time," Mozeliak said.
Ace Chris Carpenter missed almost all of the 2007 and 2008 seasons after Tommy John surgery. Starters Jake Westbrook and Jaime Garcia have had the surgery as well.
The Cardinals are expected to update Wainwright's prognosis Wednesday afternoon following his evaluation in St. Louis.
