The Savannah Bananas are currently on their annual summer tour across the United States. Originally, the team planned to play in St. Louis on April 4th and 5th, but bad weather forced those games to be postponed. Now, the Bananas are set to return to St. Louis on July 18th and 19th for the rescheduled matches.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, fans were in for a possible surprise during those St. Louis games. Former Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright had been training with the intention of pitching in a Savannah Bananas game. However, while preparing for this appearance, Wainwright injured his arm, preventing him from participating.
This injury is another in a long line of setbacks for the three-time All-Star. Throughout his 18-year MLB career, Wainwright has battled numerous arm issues, including Tommy John surgery in 2011, elbow surgery in 2014, elbow inflammation in 2018, and a shoulder strain in 2023. Although these injuries did not stop him during his playing days, at age 43 and now retired, he has chosen not to push through this latest injury for a recreational game.
Wainwright would not have been the first former major leaguer to make a surprise appearance at a Bananaball game. Recently, players like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Alex Gordon made cameo appearances when the Bananas played in Kansas City. Similarly, Todd Frazier and Bronson Arroyo appeared during the Bananas’ Cincinnati stop. Most of these players chose to appear in cities where they formerly played, rather than their hometowns.
Although Wainwright hails from Brunswick, Georgia, and the Bananas have games scheduled in Savannah, Georgia — which is close to his hometown — it’s most likely he had planned his debut appearance for the St. Louis games, given his long career with the Cardinals. Sadly, due to the injury, fans in St. Louis will have to wait longer for a chance to see the Cardinals legend pitch again, though there remains a possibility he might appear in some other capacity.
