JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright had Tommy John surgery on his right arm Monday and the team said he would be out 12-15 months.
General manager John Mozeliak said the surgery went "very well" and Wainwright is expected to return to the Cardinals' spring-training facility in a couple of weeks. The surgery was performed team physician, George Paletta.
Wainwright, the 2010 National League Cy Young award runner-up, felt stiffness after throwing his first live batting practice session a week ago. A second opinion confirmed the need for tendon reconstruction surgery.
Wainwright was 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA last season while making his first All-Star team. In 2009, Wainwright led the NL in wins (19), innings (233) and starts (34).