ST. LOUIS – Adam Wainwright, now two years removed from a prolific pitching career with the St. Louis Cardinals, made a surprise return to Busch Stadium on Friday night, this time pitching for the Savannah Bananas.
Wainwright took the mound in the later stages of the Bananas’ first of two games in St. Louis this weekend, showcasing his signature curveball and inducing a flyout to close out an inning.
A sold-out Busch Stadium crowd roared as Wainwright entered the game, threw his first strike, and finished the fame. After taking care of business, Wainwright high-fived his new Bananas teammates in a huddle and tipped his cap to the fans.
It marked Wainwright’s first pitching appearance at Busch Stadium since September 2023, when he reached an elusive 200-win milestone, becoming just the third pitcher to win that many games with the Cardinals. He retired from Major League Baseball shortly thereafter.
Wainwright said returning to the mound felt natural, especially with the St. Louis fan energy.
“Yeah, it was awesome,” said Wainwright in a one-on-one postgame interview with FOX 2. “When the crowd gets into it, when you’re out on the mound, you can’t help but feel it. … It’s the best baseball town in the world. I was blessed to play here for 18 years. Being back at Busch Stadium felt right.”
The Savannah Bananas, coincidentally based in Wainwright’s native state Georgia, are known for their fan-focused approach and off-the-wall style of play, oftentimes with flips, dancing, and unique twists to traditional baseball rules. Occasionally, the Bananas welcome former MLB stars to the team for a brief stint, such as Corey Kluber and Jake Peavy. Now, Adam Wainwright joins that list.
So how exactly did his opportunity come to be?
“I don’t really know,” said Wainwright. “I keep getting asked that. I don’t know if Jessie [with Big League Impact] reached out first or if the Cardinals asked for me to be a part of it because they knew fans were coming to town. But I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m glad they thought of it because this is exactly right up my alley.”
Wainwright allowed a single to his first batter but battled back to retire his second (and final) batter of the night. So how did he feel out there?
“I did the best I could. I’m old,” Wainwright joked. “I don’t have any bullets left, but we had fun. I was able to throw some breakers and drop down a little bit on the arm angle, and I had fun.”
Wainwright also praised the Bananas’ approach to baseball and their impact on the sport.
“This team [the Bananas] is all the talk and making waves across the whole country right now,” said Wainwright. “And it’s all for a reason. You can tell they’re all about fan interaction, and their entertainment value is through the roof. I was asked what it felt like. It was like a mixture of baseball and WWE coming together, and it’s all about the fans, and the fans love it.”
Wainwright, now 43, is still very busy in his post-Cardinals life. In addition to his Banana Ball cameo, he’s frequently involved with MLB on FOX broadcasts and country music. He’s also dedicated to spending time with family.
“Tomorrow I’ll be in Wrigley doing [color commentary for] the Red Sox-Cubs game,” said Wainwright. “Next Sunday, I’ll be at The Factory playing music. My kids are at summer camp right now, so I can take a couple of opportunities like this, but it’s all based around family and what we can do. We have a good time.”
Wainwright’s charity concert, Big League Bash, is set for July 27 at The Factory in Chesterfield. It will feature several country artists, and proceeds will benefit his charity, Big League Impact, which supports a wide range of humanitarian causes in St. Louis.
As for Banana Ball?
“This is a great show, and it brings fans to the yard, and that’s always a good thing,” said Wainwright.”