JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and miss the entire season.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed the news Thursday from spring training camp. He said he learned the severity of the injury Wednesday night after the 29-year-old pitcher sought a second opinion from Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles. A surgery date is not set.

“It’s not a real surprise to us but certainly a disappointment,” Mozeliak said. “As we look to the future now we certainly believe we still have a strong starting rotation. Now we’re going to have to look to try to fill it in terms of a fifth spot.”

Wainwright, who won 20 games last year and was runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award, felt arm stiffness after Monday’s throwing session. He had experienced soreness toward the end of last season and didn’t pitch in September. He had minor arm issues in 1998 and 2004.

His loss leaves the team with a big hole in a starting rotation that for now includes Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook.

“That’s a big guy to miss,” Lohse said. “We still got to go out there and play. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We still have to go out there and do our jobs.”

The Cardinals entered spring training with a rotation that Mozeliak said he would stack up against any in baseball.

“You’re losing an ace,” Mozeliak said. “It’s not something you can replace overnight. I would also say we have four quality pitchers. It’s not exactly like we have no bullets left.”

Manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday, before learning the extent of the injury, that he didn’t expect the Cardinals to try to replace Wainwright through a trade or free agent signing of someone like Kevin Millwood or possibly Pedro Martinez.

But that could change.

“You follow camps and see if something develops where it’s a good fit,” La Russa said. “But right now it’s not a good fit because were going to cover it from within. We’ll pay attention though, that’s part of what you do in spring training. We have scouts all over and we’ll watch box scores.”

La Russa has six or seven pitchers in camp who will have the opportunity to join the rotation.

“Guys are assigned at least a couple appearances over the first eight to 10 games and then a lot of those decisions make themselves,” La Russa said.

The list is headed by reliever Kyle McClellan and includes P.J. Walters, Lance Lynn, Adam Ottavino, Ian Snell, Brian Tallet and Brandon Dickson. McClellan and Tallet are penciled in to join the Cardinals bullpen. Walters, Lynn, Ottavino and Dickson helped comprise the Triple-A Memphis staff for most of last season.

La Russa sees plenty of work for the candidates during the early spring training games.

“Early it’s not a problem,” he said. “Even if you want to give a guy a look or something the squeeze comes after you’ve gone through the group twice, when you start really getting the guys (work) that are on the club. So we’ll see where we are.”

Tommy John surgery reconstructs the ulnar collateral ligament, replacing it with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. The procedure requires months of recovery. It is named after the pitcher who in 1974 became the first professional athlete to successfully have had the operation.

Mozeliak said spoke to Wainwright late Wednesday.

“Obviously he’s down,” Mozeliak said. “But he certainly understands what’s at stake and he’s disappointed but I think he’s also relieved to know what the next step looks like.”

The 6-foot-7 Wainwright went 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA last season, finishing behind Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay in Cy Young balloting while making his first All-Star team. His 2.93 ERA since 2007 trails only Halladay, and no NL pitcher threw more than Wainwright’s 463 1-3 innings during the past two seasons.

In 2009, Wainwright led the NL in wins (19), innings (233) and starts (34), winning a Gold Glove while finishing third in Cy Young voting.

— The Associated Press

By Tom D’Angelo

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 6:36 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, 2011

Posted: 5:14 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, 2011

JUPITER — Tony La Russa believes the St. Louis Cardinals’ starting lineup is going to be fun “to mess around with.”

But one portion of the lineup that La Russa hopes he won’t have to tinker too much with is the middle.

With Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday entrenched at No. 3 and cleanup, the mystery entering the season surrounds newcomer Lance Berkman in the fifth spot.

“I look at Albert, Matt and Lance and I think those three compare to anybody in baseball,” La Russa said.

But Berkman’s Cardinals debut was a big hit with a home run in his first at-bat and a single in the fourth inning before being replaced by a pinch-runner in St. Louis’ 6-3 loss to the Marlins.

“I am cautiously optimistic,” said Berkman, who is looking to rebound from the worst season of his career. “Spring is here today, gone tomorrow with the swing. So far I’ve felt pretty consistent.

“I feel like I have a good base, more of a power base than I’ve had in the past.”

Berkman, a switch-hitter, lined the second pitch he saw from Marlins right-hander Anibal Sanchez over the fence in left-center field. He blooped a single over second base on his second at-bat.

“It’s no surprise, is it?” La Russa said. “He’s got a career and a history of doing exactly that. It’s good to have him on our side.”

Berkman has battled a sore left elbow since the off-season but said it’s good enough for him to play.

Berkman not only is attempting to regain his swing after hitting .248 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI last season for the Astros and Yankees, he’s returning to right field, a position he had not played since 2007.

He tracked down the one ball that came his way Monday, a deep fly hit by Marlins catcher Brett Hayes.

La Russa expects to do a good amount of experimenting with the top two spots. Monday’s lineup had last season’s primary leadoff hitter, second baseman Skip Schumaker, batting first followed by shortstop Ryan Theriot. Outfielder Colby Rasmus also will be in the mix.

“Last year, Skip ended up doing some damage (at the bottom of the order),” La Russa said. “Ryan hit at the top (with the Cubs) and he’s done a lot of damage up there. Colby did damage at the top.

“I just think you got a lot of flexibility.”

Wainwright has surgery: Right-hander Adam Wainwright underwent Tommy John surgery Monday. General Manger John Mozeliak said the surgery went “very well” and that Wainwright is expected to return to the Cardinals’ spring training facility in a couple of weeks. The 2010 National League Cy Young Award runner-up will miss 12-15 months.

Noteworthy: Infielder Nick Punto returned to the Cardinals’ spring training facility Monday, four days after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia. Punto, who was signed to provide depth at three positions, is expected to miss 8-12 weeks. “We’re trying to be progressive with the rehab,” Punto said. “I probably shouldn’t say this but I think I’ll be back before May.”

JUPITER, Fla. — Albert Pujols swung at the first pitch he saw of spring training, his job with the St. Louis Cardinals in absolutely no jeopardy.

Matt Dominguez doesn’t have that luxury with the Florida Marlins.

Trying to win a spot on the Marlins’ major league roster, Dominguez hit a two-run homer in his first plate appearance as Florida opened its formal spring training schedule Monday with a 6-3 win over the Cardinals.

“Made solid contact and it happened to go out,” said Dominguez, the Marlins’ first-round pick in the 2007 amateur draft. “Not only just getting a hit, but a home-run in the first at-bat, it’s kind of big.”

Florida’s Gaby Sanchez was 2 for 2 with a two-run double. Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez allowed two hits and a run in two innings, throwing 18 of 27 pitches for strikes.

Gaby Sanchez was in the cleanup spot for Mike Stanton, who says he likely will miss about two weeks because of a strained right quadriceps. He was hurt Sunday in an exhibition loss to the Miami Hurricanes.

“Good game,” Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. “Anibal Sanchez, he threw very good pitches. I think he hanged two breaking balls, but other than that, he was very good.”

Lance Berkman was 2 for 2 with a home run for St. Louis. Pujols went 0 for 2 for the Cardinals, who announced during the game that right-hander Adam Wainwright had elbow ligament-replacement surgery earlier in the day in St. Louis.

Only in Game 1 of spring training, there was no shortage of injury news for St. Louis. Besides Wainwright’s surgery, infielder Nick Punto returned to the team’s spring facility four days after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Punto is expected to be out 8-12 weeks.

“We’re trying to be progressive with the rehab,” Punto said. “I probably shouldn’t say this but I think I’ll be back before May.”

The Cardinals were aware of Punto’s hernia problem when they signed him in January, and are allowing him to do nothing but walk for the next 7-10 days.

“There’s a lot of season left when he comes back,” manager Tony La Russa said.

Cardinals starter Raul Valdes allowed four runs and five hits in two innings.

JUPITER, Fla. — 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 that 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).

JUPITER, Fla. (AP)—Albert Pujols(notes) swung at the first pitch he saw of spring training, his job with the St. Louis Cardinals in absolutely no jeopardy.

Matt Dominguez(notes) doesn’t have that luxury with the Florida Marlins.

Trying to win a spot on the Marlins’ major league roster, Dominguez hit a two-run homer in his first plate appearance as Florida opened its formal spring training schedule Monday with a 6-3 win over the Cardinals.

“Made solid contact and it happened to go out,” said Dominguez, the Marlins’ first-round pick in the 2007 amateur draft. “Not only just getting a hit, but a home-run in the first at-bat, it’s kind of big.”

Florida’s Gaby Sanchez(notes) was 2 for 2 with a two-run double. Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez(notes) allowed two hits and a run in two innings, throwing 18 of 27 pitches for strikes.

Gaby Sanchez was in the cleanup spot for Mike Stanton(notes), who says he likely will miss about two weeks because of a strained right quadriceps. He was hurt Sunday in an exhibition loss to the Miami Hurricanes.

“Good game,” Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. “Anibal Sanchez, he threw very good pitches. I think he hanged two breaking balls, but other than that, he was very good.”

Lance Berkman(notes) was 2 for 2 with a home run for St. Louis. Pujols went 0 for 2 for the Cardinals, who announced during the game that right-hander Adam Wainwright(notes) had elbow ligament-replacement surgery earlier in the day in St. Louis.

Only in Game 1 of spring training, there was no shortage of injury news for St. Louis. Besides Wainwright’s surgery, infielder Nick Punto(notes) returned to the team’s spring facility four days after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Punto is expected to be out 8-12 weeks.

“We’re trying to be progressive with the rehab,” Punto said. “I probably shouldn’t say this but I think I’ll be back before May.”

The Cardinals were aware of Punto’s hernia problem when they signed him in January, and are allowing him to do nothing but walk for the next 7-10 days.

“There’s a lot of season left when he comes back,” manager Tony La Russa said.

Cardinals starter Raul Valdes(notes) allowed four runs and five hits in two innings.

JUPITER, Fla. — 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 that 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 earned-run average last season while making his first all-star team. In 2009, Wainwright led the NL in wins (19), innings (233) and starts (34).