Cardinals' Wainwright experiencing abdominal pain, returning to St. Louis

Adam Wainwright is returning to St. Louis to see a specialist Thursday after experiencing abdominal pain during workouts in Jupiter, Fla.

Wainwright, who is on a delayed throwing program this spring, said the soreness has limited his workouts, but not his ability to pitch.

"It shouldn't effect him at that point, or any more beyond that point," general manager John Mozeliak told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Tuesday. "I would say (the level of concern) is a medium at this point."

Wainwright was noticeably absent from Tuesday's workout while he received additional treatment and testing from the club's medical staff. Mozeliak said the 33-year-old will return to St. Louis to see Dr. Michael Brunt at Washington University for further evaluation.

"We want him to see a specialist," Mozeliak said, noting it would be incorrect to label the injury as a sports hernia. "So we have a better idea."

The Cardinals had already planned to proceed with caution this spring after Wainwright underwent a minor procedure on his surgically repaired right elbow during the offseason.