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Adam Wainwright, a veteran pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, recently suffered a groin injury while representing Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
He was set to be the starting pitcher for the Cardinals on the opening day on Mar. 30 but will instead be on the injury list. The extent of the injury will be determined in the coming days after the test results are evaluated.
Wainwright, 41, has been with the Cardinals for 16 seasons and has established himself as one of the team's most reliable pitchers. He has been an All-Star three times and finished in the top three in the National League Cy Young voting four times. Despite his age, he has remained a key part of the Cardinals' pitching staff, so his injury is a significant setback as the team prepare for the new season.
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Groin injuries can be particularly difficult for pitchers, as they use their lower body extensively in their pitching motion. The injury could potentially impact Wainwright's ability to generate power and velocity on his pitches, which could be detrimental to his effectiveness on the mound.
The Cardinals have not yet announced a timetable for Wainwright's return, but it's likely that he will miss at least the first month of the regular season. It's not the first time Wainwright has dealt with injury issues, though. He missed most of the 2015 season with a torn Achilles tendon and has also dealt with elbow and shoulder injuries over the years.
Cardinals need to find replacement for starting pitcher Adam Wainwright
In the short term, the St. Louis Cardinals will need to find someone to replace Adam Wainwright's production in the rotation.
The team has several young pitchers who could step up, but Jake Woodford looks the likely candidate for the job. While he may not have the experience or track record of Wainwright, it remains to be seen how effective the Cardinals will be in the latter's absence.
Adam Wainwright's injury is a significant setback for the Cardinals as they prepare for the new season. It's even more disheartenin, as he has announced his retirement from the game after the 2023 MLB season.
His leadership and experience will be missed both on and off the field, so the team will need to find a way to overcome his absence if they wish to compete for the World Series in 2023.
