Trading Cleats for Cowboy Boots: Cardinal Great Adam Wainwright to showcase Country Music chops at French Lick Resort

After collecting two World Series rings, 200 wins, and over 2,200 strikeouts, the three-time Major League Baseball All-Star finds himself under a new spotlight, on the Country Music stage.

"There's really nothing like running onto the field of a big playoff game," Wainwright said. "The only thing that I could tell you that is very, very close to it, is walking out on the stage in a big show, with a big crowd rocking."

In his first trip to the Hoosier state, Wainwright will add French Lick Resort to his list of venues, which includes the Grand Ole Opry and The Today Show.

Upon retirement, Wainwright's old and new worlds merged. Wainwright's single, "Time to Fly", signaled his foray into the country music scene while serving as his goodbye to Cardinals fans. A fun, and retrospective undertaking, says Wainwright.

"I knew when my fastball started to dip a little bit that time was growing a little thin, and I knew that when my health started to waver a little bit that my time was a little thin..." Wainwright said. "The St. Louis Cardinals trading for me in 2003 was one of the biggest, and most surprising blessings that I could have ever imagined. To play for them my entire career in the big leagues was such a blessing. I wanted to make sure that if I was writing all of these songs and trying to make a go at it, I wanted to make sure that I honored St. Louis too for the incredible impact that the city had on me, the fanbase had on me, that the organization had on me."

Of course, Adam's appreciation for country music began well before his final step off of the mound.

"That's Garth Brooks and George Strait, those were the two biggest influences I had, and I would say Alan Jackson right after that," Wainwright said."Their music is kind of what I pattern my music after, that's the style that I like to write and perform."

Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell also make the list. But Wainwright's biggest country influence is in his corner, working with him through each stage of the process. 

Gary Baker, who 'discovered' Wainwright playing at Matt Holiday's house during Spring Training. Baker, now Wainwright's co-writer and producer, nudges him in the right direction, says Wainwright.

"He's the one that kind of shepherded my writing style a little bit," say Wainwright. "[Baker] Moved me in the right direction as far as how to phrase things, what words sing good, what words don't sing good. There's just a real craft to it."

Of course, with such a career change, one wonders if anything - say Juan Soto's $756 million contract - triggers any regrets.

"I was in the batting cage working on my swing the next day," Wainwright jokes, adding that he's excited to see the game through a new lens this season. In addition to his musical performance slate, Wainwright will join the broadcast booth with FOX in 2024.

After all, Wainwright says he's "still a baseball nut".

The full interview with Adam Wainwright can be heard below.