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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton can’t catch a break.
Naughton, 29, was pitching for the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate on Wednesday trying to return to MLB when he appeared to suffer another arm injury just three pitches into his last start.
Naughton hit a 1-1 pitch well outside the strike zone and immediately grabbed his left elbow. He took a couple of steps toward the plate before bending over in pain. He finally left with a trainer while holding his left arm.
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St. Louis Cardinals reliever Packy Naughton pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 2, 2023. (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
“That’s never a good sign,” Charlotte Knights announcer Matt Swierad said during the broadcast. “Hopefully there was nothing too serious, just something I was trying to be cautious 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, while rehabbing, Naughton tore his flexor tendon again in addition to tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow.
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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton appears on the field in Jupiter, Florida, on February 17, 2026. (Jim Rassol/Image 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 expected him to be 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/Image Images)
Naughton appeared to be on track to be a member of the bullpen in 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 has appeared in 37 games, going 0-6 with a 4.98 ERA and one save in 59.2 innings pitched.
