Barely two months after his 18-year MLB career came to a close, Adam Wainwright — legendary right-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals — announced his next career move: becoming a country music singer.
On Wednesday, Wainwright informed his followers on X that his debut single, "Time to Fly" — which he claims to have written just for Cardinals fans — is out now and "available wherever you buy your music!"
The song I wrote just for you @Cardinals fans called ?Time to Fly? is out and available wherever you buy your music! Please go check it out! Thanks, and be ready? my full album comes out Feb 23rd. Love y?all! pic.twitter.com/XVWKO4TEtC
— Adam Wainwright (@UncleCharlie50) December 20, 2023
What's more, Wainwright announced that his debut studio album is set to release on Feb. 23. So mark your calendars, Cardinals faithful!
This isn't the first time baseball fans have been introduced to Wainwright's musical aptitude. As part of a sendoff celebration back in September for Wainwright — a three-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove award winner, 2007 Silver Slugger, 2020 Roberto Clemente Award winner, and 2006 World Series champion — he brought his guitar to St. Louis' Busch Stadium and performed "Time to Fly," along with "Hey Y'all" and "A Song Will Bring You Back" (two other tunes we expect to see in Wainwright's debut album) in front of over 800 Cardinals fans after a game ended.
"I love you all so much, I'm so proud to be a St. Louis Cardinal for this long." - Adam Wainwright, country music singer. ?? pic.twitter.com/6uBlw3xhiw
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) October 1, 2023
During a Wainwright start in 2022 that was broadcast on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball," ESPN introduced fans to another song by the Cardinals icon, titled, "Sounds Real Good To Me" — which, in fact, sounded real good.
Clearly, ESPN's approval inspired confidence. Wainwright also performed his music at a charity concert in Illinois in January, and he took Cardinals fans by surprise by singing the national anthem at Busch Stadium's opening day this season.
Wainwright apparently only began playing music in 2021, when he picked up guitar as a hobby during the MLB's brief lockout period. As he continued to practice, received the support of country music icons such as Gary Baker and Greg Barnhill, and began garnering interest from family, friends and fans, Wainwright decided that he might as well pursue music as more than just a hobby once his playing days were done. Two years later, he has an entire studio album waiting in the wings.
Wainwright isn't the only professional baseball player to moonlight as a country music artist. Less than a month ago, we learned about Houston Astros minor league catcher Luke Berryhill recording a couple songs with a music label in 2022, which he hopes can provide some extra income as he tries to make it to the MLB.
Who knows? Perhaps we'll hear Berryhill featured on Wainwright's forthcoming album. One imagines they could be quite the country music (and baseball) battery.
