With Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina both retired, many St. Louis Cardinals fans are wondering whether or not Adam Wainwright will be back in 2023.
Wainwright was the Cardinals’ Opening Day starter and was solid for most of the season, but a bad September saddled him with a losing record for the first time since 2018 and brought his ERA up from 3.09 to 3.71.
As a result, Wainwright did not pitch in the Cards’ NL Wild Card Series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
A few days ago, Wainwright’s former teammate Matt Holliday was asked if he thought the Cards’ ace since 2007 was going to pitch another season.
Holliday predicted that Wainwright would return for one last ride.
Have we seen the last of Adam Wainwright in a #STLCards uniform? @MHollidayOKST told #TheFastLane he doesn't think so.
Full interview: https://t.co/2VCMwlGTr8 pic.twitter.com/MPN4T0Alb0
— 101 ESPN St. Louis (@101espn) October 17, 2022
Will Wainwright Return In 2023?
Wainwright has been one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen since coming up in 2005.
It was him on the mound for the final outs of the 2006 NLCS and World Series.
It was Wainwright who finished off the 2013 NLDS with a complete game and challenged Clayton Kershaw for the Cy Young Award multiple times.
Wainwright recently said that the reason he had struggled so badly in the month of September was a result of a come-backer to the knee that threw off his delivery.
Wainwright has not said for sure what his plans are for 2023 and left it open to interpretation after the Cardinals’ season-ending loss to the Phillies.
One would expect that Wainwright will have his answer by the end of the postseason.
If this is it for the two-time World Series champion, then he leaves behind a legacy of success that Cardinals fans will always appreciate.
His competitive spirit will not be forgotten, and Cardinals fans will cherish these memories forever.
NEXT: The Cardinals Have A Long List Of Defensive Stars