What happened to Adam Wainwright in 2011?

Adam Wainwright is a Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB).

On February 21, 2011 shortly after reporting to spring training, Wainwright experienced discomfort in his right elbow while pitching batting practice.

Three days later, the Cardinals announced that Wainwright would miss the entire 2011 season and possibly the first three months of the following season due to ulnar collateral ligament damage that necessitated Tommy John surgery (TJS).

After the season Wainwright underwent right elbow surgery to remove a cartilage flap, the first surgery on the elbow since having Tommy John surgery in 2011.

In the first round of the 2000 amateur draft, the Atlanta Braves selected him 29th overall from Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Georgia.

Wainwright established himself as an ace, leading the National League in wins, innings pitched, and games started on multiple occasions.

In 2014, Wainwright became the first pitcher in Major League history to win nine of his first 18 starts while pitching seven innings and allowing no runs.

Wainwright has won over 150 games, three All-Star selections, two Gold Glove Awards, and four times finished in the top three of the Cy Young Award balloting.