Baseball

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright serves food to crowd at Ahmaud Arbery trial

By Cole Claybourn Nov 19, 2021
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Adam Wainwright is known for his curveball, his faith and his heart for giving back to others in his community. The latter was on display Thursday when the St. Louis Cardinals pitcher helped pass out food to people outside the Glynn County courthouse in his hometown of Brunswick, Georgia, where the trial for one of the men accused of shooting and killing Ahmaud Arbery is happening.

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Wainwright, 40, grew up in Brunswick and attended high school at Glynn Academy, just a few blocks from the courthouse. He and his wife, Jenny, and their four daughters and son live just a few minutes away on nearby St. Simons Island during the offseason.

The trial has garnered national interest, as did the alleged murder.

Wainwright received praise for his generosity from former NFL tight end and outspoken follower of Christ Benjamin Watson, who is also an author and advocate for racial reconciliation.

“One of the most genuine and humble people I know,” Watson tweeted. “Truly cares about empathizing with others while sharing the love of Christ in tangible ways. Well done brother.”

A fierce competitor, a three-time All-Star and a World Series champion during his 16-year MLB career, all with the Cardinals, Wainwright has sought to have just as big of an impact for Christ off the field. Wainwright is known for actively sharing his faith on social media, and in January 2020, he announced on Twitter that any fans who were interested could read through the Bible with him during the year.

Wainwright has also won numerous awards for his humanitarian service, including the Roberto Clemente Award in 2020. Recently, he and his family were honored before a Cardinals game for their generosity to Water Mission, and a safe water project in Haiti was dedicated in their name.

Wainwright also recently appeared on the “Get in the Game” podcast with Scott Linebrink, where he talked about his heart for service and said it was something his family demonstrated to him as a child.

“I think it’s one of those things that’s instilled in you as a young kid,” Wainwright said on the podcast. “Growing up, having friends that didn’t have opportunities like I had — and we weren’t well-off, by any means — but we had friends that were less fortunate than us even, that we had to pull along with us to take on trips and help pay for uniforms. Sometimes, people had to help pay for my uniforms.

“It was just a good, giving-back community. Our community is just very giving.”

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