Cardinals pitcher attempting MLB comeback sustains crushing arm injury just 3 pitches into his outing

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton cannot drawback a break.

Naughton, 29, was pitching successful the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate connected Wednesday attempting an MLB comeback erstwhile helium appeared to prolong different limb wounded conscionable 3 pitches into his latest outing.

Naughton fired a 1-1 transportation good wide of the onslaught portion and instantly grabbed his near elbow. He took a mates of paces toward location sheet earlier bending implicit successful pain. He yet walked disconnected with a trainer portion holding his near arm.

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St. Louis Cardinals alleviation pitcher Packy Naughton pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning astatine Busch Stadium successful St. Louis, Missouri, connected April 2, 2023. (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)

"That’s ne'er a bully sign," Charlotte Knights announcer Matt Swierad said during the broadcast. "Hopefully thing excessively superior there, conscionable thing helium was trying to beryllium cautious about."

Naughton’s unfortunate tally of limb injuries began successful 2023 erstwhile helium tore his flexor tendon aft 4 scoreless appearances, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. In 2024, portion rehabbing, Naughton re-tore the flexor tendon successful summation to tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) successful his near elbow.

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton is pictured connected the tract successful Jupiter, Florida, connected Feb. 17, 2026. (Jim Rassol/Imagn Images)

He underwent Tommy John country to repair his UCL and missed some the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Despite the injuries, Naughton signed a two-year insignificant league woody astatine the extremity of the 2024 season. The Cardinals knew helium would beryllium rehabbing passim 2025 and hoped helium would beryllium a portion of the team’s bullpen successful 2026.

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton throws a transportation during a outpouring grooming workout astatine Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium successful Jupiter, Fla., connected Feb. 14, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

Naughton seemed similar helium was connected his mode to being a subordinate of the bullpen successful this year’s outpouring training, signaling a 1.29 ERA implicit 7 appearances.

Across 3 seasons, 1 with the Los Angeles Angels and 2 with the Cardinals, Naughton has appeared successful 37 games, going 0-6 with a 4.98 ERA and 1 prevention successful 59.2 innings pitched.

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