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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton can’t catch a break.
Naughton, 29, was pitching Wednesday in the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate in an attempt to return to MLB when he appeared to suffer another arm injury just three pitches into his final game.
Naughton pulled a 1-1 pitch well out of the strike zone and immediately grabbed his left elbow. He took a few steps toward home plate before hunching over in pain. He finally left with a trainer while holding his left arm.
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Cardinals relief pitcher Packy Naughton pitches in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri on April 2, 2023. (Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports)
“It’s never a good sign,” Charlotte Knights announcer Matt Swierad said on the show. “Hopefully nothing too serious there, just something he was trying to be careful about.”
Naughton’s unfortunate run of arm injuries began in 2023 when he tore his flexor tendon after four scoreless appearances, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. In 2024, during his rehabilitation, Naughton tore the flexor tendon in addition to tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow.
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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton on the field in Jupiter, Florida on February 17, 2026. (Jim Rassol/Imagn Images)
He underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL and missed the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Despite the injuries, Naughton signed a two-year minor league contract at the end of the 2024 season. The Cardinals knew he would be rehabbing throughout 2025 and hoped he would be a part of the team’s bullpen in 2026.
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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton throws a pitch during spring training at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida on February 14, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
Naughton appeared poised to become a member of the bullpen during spring training this year, posting a 1.29 ERA in seven appearances.
Over three seasons, one with the Los Angeles Angels and two with the Cardinals, Naughton appeared in 37 games, going 0-6 with a 4.98 ERA and one save in 59.2 innings pitched.
