Cardinals' Wainwright: 'The worst pain I ever had pitching was last year'
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright enjoyed another sublime season in 2014, posting a career-best 2.38 ERA over 32 starts while finishing third in National League Cy Young voting.
His dominance, however, wasn't a pain-free endeavor.
"I have had partially torn ligaments in my elbow twice and I have pitched full seasons with them - I blew my arm out," Wainwright told FOX Sports. "But the worst pain I ever had pitching was last year."
Wainwright, who underwent Tommy John surgery in February 2011, was noticeably less effective after the All-Star break - he managed a 3.24 ERA with a 2.78 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last 13 starts - and mentioned Monday that his discomfort was particularly bothersome throughout the second half of the season.
"Every start in the second half was the worst start the way I felt if you can imagine how that feels for a whole half of the season plus playoffs, it is not very fun," Wainwright said.
The 33-year-old underwent surgery after the season, a minor procedure in which a small piece of cartilage was trimmed from the right elbow, and his workload will be reduced this spring.
Wainwright, a three-time All-Star, has logged more innings over the last two seasons than any other pitcher in baseball.