Cards' Wacha hooked on R.B.I. Baseball 14

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha is too young to have experienced the phenomenon that R.B.I. Baseball was when first released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986. He wouldn't be born for another five years.

But life is full of second chances.

Wacha has joined Orioles outfielder Adam Jones as a spokesman for the revamped version, R.B.I. Baseball 14, and he was quickly hooked after first playing the game.

"It was a lot of fun," Wacha said. "It is a fun, easy, quick game. I think it's going to be a real hit."

His favorite part? He got to play as himself.

Wacha said he didn't perform as well as hoped -- "A lot of homers in this game," he noted -- but he had the luxury of bringing in Adam Wainwright behind him. Wacha estimated that the nine-inning game took him 20 minutes to finish. Simplicity was one of the objectives in the recreation of this old-time favorite.

"I had to come out after about three or four innings," Wacha said. "I got a little tired as my pitch count got up there a little bit. I brought in Wainwright behind me, even though he's not used to coming in behind me. Here, it can happen."

The game has launched on Xbox 360, PS3 and on iOS via the Apple App Store. It's coming this spring for PS4, Xbox One and Android devices

"I think fans will like just how easy the game is," said Wacha, who describes himself as a casual gamer. "It's not real complicated like other games. And it's pretty exciting, for sure."