St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Packy Naughton is ready to put his injury-plagued years behind him. For the first time since 2023, the 29-year-old is fully healthy and set to follow a normal spring training program without restrictions.
Naughton has battled significant elbow issues, including a flexor tendon repair in 2023 followed by a re-tear and a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery in 2024. Those setbacks caused him to miss most of 2024 and all of 2025, limiting him to just 37 major league innings from 2022-2023, where he posted a 4.14 ERA with solid control (36 strikeouts against 8 walks).
Now, as a non-roster invitee to Cardinals major league spring training, Naughton is cleared to ramp up from day one.
With the Cardinals’ bullpen needing reliable left-handed options, Naughton could emerge as a strong candidate for the second lefty slot out of the pen. His prior big-league experience and ability to handle multiple innings make him an intriguing lottery ticket if he stays healthy and shows his old form.
