ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Many Cardinals players have stepped into the world of broadcasting after their playing careers ended. Tim McCarver, Jim Edmonds, Albert Pujols, Brad Thompson, John Smoltz, Al Hrabosky, and Mike Shannon are just some of the past Cardinals players to step in front of the camera or microphone over the years.
Add Adam Wainwright to that list.
On Thursday, Fox Sports officially announced that Wainwright was set to join the network as an MLB analyst.
“I’m excited to join the FOX Sports family,” Wainwright said in a statement to FOX. “I love the game of baseball, and I really enjoy talking about the chess match that goes on between the pitcher and the hitter. Hopefully, my experience on the field will allow me the opportunity to share the game I love in a unique and deep way, bringing viewers closer to the game.”
Wainwright full schedule for 2024 has not been announced, but among his assignments with the network will include calling the first game of the 2024 MLB World Tour: London Series matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets on Saturday, June 8, which will be played at English Premier League side West Ham United's home ground the London Stadium.
Wainwright has previously expressed interest in broadcasting over the previous few years and was able to get his feet wet in the world of broadcasting. Over the last four seasons, Wainwright has worked some postseasons coverage with FOX Sports after the Cardinals season' ended. Wainwright has primarily worked with brief Cardinals catcher AJ Pierzynski and Chicago-based broadcaster Adam Amin in the Divisional Series.
Wainwright got rave reviews working last year's ALDS matchup between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins, with Wainwright most notably analyzing and deep diving now-Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray's sweeper, how it differed from a slider and what made the pitch so effective.
Cardinals Nation will get plenty of opportunity to hear Wainwright call Cardinals games for FOX. FOX announced their 2024 MLB Broadcast schedule earlier in January with the Cardinals set to appear on either FOX or FOX Sports 1 eight times at the moment. The Cardinals first national broadcast on FOX will be on Saturday, April 27 as they head to Queens to play the New York Mets.
The Cardinals first FOX broadcast at Busch Stadium will be on Saturday, May 25 against the rival Chicago Cubs as part of FOX's Baseball Night in America promotion.