Card’s Wainwright says he’s ready for spring start
March 4th, 2012 by Ric Hanson
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright is one step closer to pitching in a game for the first time since being sidelined with an elbow injury that caused him to miss all of the 2011 season. Wainwright threw his final batting practice session Sunday before his scheduled start Friday at Minnesota’s spring training home in Ft. Myers, Fla. With Cardinals manager Mike Matheny watching, Wainwright said he approached the short session of around 30 pitches as if it were a real game and that his arm felt fine afterward. He also said that since camp began nothing has slowed his rehab process. While he said he is not usually a person to get butterflies, Wainwright acknowledged he wouldn’t be surprised if he had a few for Friday’s game.