Could Adam Wainwright return to Cardinals?

Can St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright make it all the way back from a torn Achilles? Co-editor Steve Ungrey examines the possibility.

No doubt many St. Louis Cardinals fans had to be revived when Adam Wainwright suffered a torn Achilles.

These injuries usually knock a player out for an entire season, but Wainwright didn’t get the memo.

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Neither did the Cardinals. They were supposed to collapse like a house of cards upon losing Wainwright, but they have a 77-44 overall record and first place in the National League Central.

And now comes word the Cardinals might get Wainwright back.

According to MLB reporter Jenifer Langosch, Wainwright is working to defy the 9-12 month timetable and make his return sooner rather than later.

“You can’t stop being who you are, right? I’m going to push as hard as I can without being silly,” Wainwright told Langosch in an article on MLB.com. “I’m going to push as hard as I can to try and get back for this team this season. If not, then I know at least I tried everything I could.”

This means Cardinals fans should not get their hopes up. The pitching staff is already fairly solid with Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha and Lance Lynn up top.

“You can’t stop being who you are, right? I’m going to push as hard as I can without being silly.” — Adam Wainwright

Could Wainwright return in limited duty? The Cardinals might love it if he returned for one or two innings at a time, but knowing Wainwright it will be all or nothing.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak and the rehab staff are watching this one very closely. They don’t want a repeat of Chris Carpenter, who essentially pushed himself into retirement by overusing his right shoulder during the 2011 World Series run.

It is for that reason that Wainwright’s followers should prepare for the worst. In this case, however, the worst is the best.

If Wainwright runs into any difficulty, he should shut it down and prepare for spring training.