Cardinals Pitcher Suffers Arm Injury in Comeback Attempt

Packy Naughton's injury-plagued career takes another hit just 3 pitches into his latest outing.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp planes and angles representing the physical strain and uncertainty of an injury-plagued career.A cubist interpretation of a pitcher's arm motion captures the fragility and complexity of a comeback attempt marred by injury.Los Angeles Today

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton, 29, was attempting an MLB comeback with the team's Triple-A affiliate when he appeared to sustain another arm injury just three pitches into his latest outing. Naughton fired a pitch well wide of the strike zone and immediately grabbed his left elbow in pain, eventually walking off the field with a trainer while holding his left arm.

Why it matters

Naughton has endured a string of devastating arm injuries over the past few years, including a torn flexor tendon in 2023 and a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in 2024 that required Tommy John surgery. Despite the setbacks, the Cardinals signed him to a two-year minor league deal, hoping he could contribute to their bullpen in 2026. This latest injury is a major blow to Naughton's comeback efforts.

The details

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 rest of the season. In 2024, while rehabbing, Naughton re-tore the flexor tendon in addition to tearing his UCL, undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Despite the injuries, the Cardinals signed Naughton to a two-year minor league deal at the end of 2024, hoping he would be a part of their bullpen in 2026. Naughton seemed to be on his way, recording a 1.29 ERA over seven appearances in spring training this year.

  • On Wednesday, Naughton was pitching in the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate, attempting an MLB comeback.
  • Just 3 pitches into his outing, Naughton appeared to sustain another arm injury, grabbing his left elbow in pain.

The players

Packy Naughton

A 29-year-old pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals who has endured a string of devastating arm injuries over the past few years, including a torn flexor tendon and a torn ulnar collateral ligament that required Tommy John surgery.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Major League Baseball team that signed Naughton to a two-year minor league deal at the end of 2024, hoping he could contribute to their bullpen in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“That's never a good sign. Hopefully nothing too serious there, just something he was trying to be cautious about.”

— Matt Swierad, Charlotte Knights announcer

What’s next

The Cardinals will likely wait to see the results of further medical evaluations before determining the severity of Naughton's latest injury and his potential timeline for recovery.

The takeaway

Naughton's injury-plagued career has been a frustrating journey, and this latest setback is a major blow to his hopes of making a successful MLB comeback. The Cardinals' decision to sign him to a minor league deal despite his injury history shows their belief in his potential, but his inability to stay healthy continues to be a major obstacle.