The Long Road Back: Packy Naughton Returns to the Mound

The Long Road Back: Packy Naughton Returns to the Mound

In the Cardinals’ first spring training game of 2026 at Roger Dean Stadium, one appearance carried more weight than the box score might suggest.

When Packy Naughton took the mound Saturday for the St. Louis Cardinals, it marked his first game action in more than a year — and another step in a long recovery from significant elbow surgery.

Naughton’s absence has not been brief. In 2023, he underwent surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow. During the rehab process, doctors discovered additional ligament damage, eventually leading to Tommy John surgery and further repair work.

Over the following months, Naughton faced grueling physical therapy, setbacks, and an uncertain timeline—a journey that ultimately resulted in essentially two lost seasons and a long, arduous climb back to health.

Now, in the first game of camp, he was back on a major league mound in Jupiter.
Naughton was efficient and in complete control, needing just 14 pitches to retire the three hitters he faced. He induced two weak ground balls, showing his command and pitch movement, before freezing the final batter with a perfectly placed fastball for a called third strike.

As he walked off the mound, there was no mistaking the smile on his face—a visible sign of relief and accomplishment after months of uncertainty.

Before the injuries, Naughton provided valuable left-handed depth for the Cardinals’ bullpen. He has never relied on overpowering velocity, but rather on pinpoint command, deceptive arm angles, and relentless competitiveness—the kind of arm that can quietly stabilize a bullpen over the course of a grueling 162-game season, stepping into high-leverage spots or bridging innings when needed.

Spring training statistics won’t tell the story here.

Health will.

If Naughton proves durable this spring, he gives the Cardinals another experienced left-handed option—someone who could fill a vital role, whether on the big-league roster in St. Louis or as trusted depth in Memphis. After two years defined by rehab rooms, setbacks, and recovery schedules, simply being available again is a testament to his work ethic and resilience.

Opening day of spring training is usually about prospects, projections, and position battles—fresh faces and future stars vying for a chance to make an impression.

But on this Saturday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium, it was also about perseverance—about a pitcher’s long road back and the quiet triumph of stepping once again onto a big-league mound.

And that still matters.

Photo Credit - New England Journal