Trouble Brewing: Sonny Gray’s Spring Struggles Mirror Wainwright’s Fall
The St. Louis Cardinals entered spring training with high hopes, envisioning Sonny Gray as the linchpin of their pitching rotation. However, Gray’s performance has been alarming. A 12.56 ERA and eight home runs allowed in a mere 14.1 innings paint a grim picture. These struggles have triggered unsettling flashbacks to Adam Wainwright’s final, painful season. The parallels are hard to ignore, leaving fans with a sense of déjà vu and a gnawing unease about what the future holds. Is this merely a temporary setback, or a sign of deeper, more persistent problems?
The Cardinals faithful remember Wainwright’s 2023 season all too well. The beloved ace, once a symbol of consistency and dominance, struggled mightily. His ERA ballooned to 7.40, and he surrendered a staggering 20 home runs in just 101 innings. It was a difficult season for both Wainwright and the fans who had cheered him on for so many years. The decline was evident, and the explanations, while understandable, offered little comfort. Could Gray be headed down a similar path? The whispers of concern are growing louder with each subpar outing.
Wainwright’s woes were initially attributed to a “dead arm,” a common ailment for aging pitchers. Later, the truth emerged: a comebacker had shortened his extension by nearly a foot, severely impacting his performance. The injuries and the excuses piled up, creating a sense of frustration and disappointment. Now, as Gray battles his own set of challenges, the Cardinals and their fans are left wondering if they are witnessing a similar unraveling. The stakes are high, and the team’s success in 2025 may hinge on Gray’s ability to turn things around.
The Injury Bug Bites: Echoes of Wainwright’s 2023 Nightmare
Wainwright’s 2023 spring training was a harbinger of the struggles to come. He pitched only five innings, allowing four runs and eight hits. A groin strain landed him on the injured list before the season even began. This set the tone for a year plagued by physical ailments and inconsistent performance. Mid-season, shoulder discomfort sidelined him again, requiring cortisone injections. He attributed the lack of life on his curveball, his signature pitch, to these shoulder issues. It was a cascade of problems that ultimately derailed his season and cast a shadow over his illustrious career.
Gray, too, has offered explanations for his spring struggles. He initially dismissed concerns, stating that he was merely working on new pitches and locations. However, he later revealed that a painkilling injection from late 2024 had delayed his offseason program, potentially affecting his velocity. Now, a flu-like illness has further complicated matters, sapping his strength and leaving him feeling unwell. These revelations echo the litany of excuses and justifications that surrounded Wainwright’s decline, raising questions about Gray’s long-term health and effectiveness.
The similarities are striking. Both pitchers, at similar stages in their careers, faced unexpected challenges and offered explanations that, while plausible, did little to alleviate the growing concerns. The Cardinals’ front office and coaching staff are undoubtedly monitoring Gray’s situation closely, hoping to avoid a repeat of the Wainwright debacle. However, the parallels are undeniable, and the pressure is mounting on Gray to prove that he can overcome these obstacles and live up to the expectations placed upon him.
Diminished Arsenal: Will Gray Adapt Where Wainwright Couldn’t?
At 35 years old, Sonny Gray is entering a phase of his career where physical decline becomes a real possibility. As Adam Wainwright demonstrated, the stuff that once made a pitcher great can disappear quickly. For Gray, a pitcher who relies heavily on strikeouts, adapting to a diminished arsenal may be more challenging than it was for Wainwright. Wainwright, whose game was never solely dependent on strikeouts, could rely on his guile and experience to navigate through difficult situations. Gray may need to reinvent himself if he hopes to remain effective.
The Cardinals’ decision to continue using Wainwright in 2023 was driven, in part, by his pursuit of 200 career victories and the team’s lack of playoff contention. However, Gray does not have any such milestones to chase in 2025. If he is sidelined, the Cardinals should be more willing to prioritize his long-term health over short-term gains. The team is not expected to contend for a championship this season, so there is no reason to rush Gray back into action if he is not fully healthy. A cautious approach is warranted, especially given the potential for further injury.
The Cardinals have a six-man rotation, which could alleviate some of the pressure on Gray and provide him with extra rest between starts. However, this may not be enough if he is dealing with a significant injury. With Gray under contract for 2026 and the Cardinals holding a club option for 2027, they need to exercise caution and avoid a repeat of the 2023 season, where they continued to trot out a starter who was clearly unable to perform at a major league level. The long-term health of Gray’s arm and the team’s future success should be the top priorities.
A Call for Caution: Protecting Gray and the Cardinals’ Future
Sonny Gray’s spring training struggles have raised legitimate concerns about his health and effectiveness. The parallels to Adam Wainwright’s final season are unsettling, and the Cardinals must learn from the past. If Gray’s problems persist, the team should not hesitate to place him on the injured list and explore other options. Prioritizing his long-term health is crucial, especially given his contract situation. The Cardinals cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of 2023, when they stubbornly stuck with a declining Wainwright, to the detriment of both the player and the team.
