Cards' Wainwright leaves camp with injury

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright has left the team's Florida spring training camp to have his right elbow examined, team officials said Wednesday.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Wainwright could have a "significant injury."

If that's the case, Tommy John surgery could be an option, which would end the right-hander's 2011 season before it begins.

Wainwright returned to St. Louis for tests from the Jupiter, Fla., spring training camp after apparently experiencing pain while throwing Monday.

The 29-year-old Georgia native was 20-11 with a 2.42 earned run average in 33 starts last season, finishing second to Philadelphia's Roy Halladay in Cy Young voting.

As a reliever, Wainwright helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 2007, then was moved into the starting rotation.