Cardinals Expect Adam Wainwright To Be Ready By Spring Training

The St. Louis Cardinals expect Adam Wainwright to be at full-strength by spring training, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Wainwright underwent Tommy John surgery in late February last season after feeling discomfort when throwing batting practice. The Cardinals’ ace was initially expected to miss the first few weeks of the 2012 season while rehabbing the injury, however the latest reports appear much more optimistic for a quicker recovery.

"I look at how Tim Hudson came back from Tommy John and finished fourth in the Cy Young (award). I see Jaime Garcia come back and almost lead the league in ERA," Wainwright told the Post-Dispatch . "I really think it's good to not think about anything less than normal expectations. And my normal expectations are to be the best there is."

In 2010, Wainwright won 20 games while posting a 2.42 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 230 innings pitched. In 2009 he led the league in wins (19) games started (34) and innings pitched (233).