The Trainer's Table
The Cardinal Chronicle
The Trainer’s Table
St. Louis, MO — By Ray Mileur
The Cardinals continue to navigate early-season health concerns at both the major league level and throughout the farm system, with several key contributors working their way back from injury.
At the minor league level, the organization is currently without a group of promising arms — Sem Robberse, Cooper Hjerpe, Ixan Henderson, and Tekoah Roby — all on the 60-day injured list with elbow and arm-related issues. While no firm timelines have been established, their absence is already being felt in both organizational depth and player development.
Triple-A Memphis suffered another blow when left-hander Packy Naughton went down just three pitches into his 2026 season debut on April 8. Naughton exited immediately after sustaining a torn ligament in his left elbow, a significant setback following a strong spring in which he posted a 1.29 ERA. Early indications suggest a lengthy recovery, potentially sidelining him for a year or more and placing his comeback effort in serious doubt.
At the major league level, several situations continue to develop:
Right-hander Matt Pushard (right knee patellar tendinitis) is trending in a positive direction. After landing on the 15-day injured list on March 30, Pushard threw a bullpen session on April 12. He will begin his rehab assignment by appearing Wednesday with Class AAA Memphis
Hunter Dobbins continues to make steady progress in his return from a torn right ACL. In his second rehab outing with Memphis on April 7, Dobbins struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings while allowing just one run — an encouraging sign that his arm is ahead of schedule, even as the organization remains cautious with his overall recovery. According to one insider, the Cardinals are close to making a baseball decision, rather than a health one, which is good news for the front office.
Outfielder Lars Nootbaar remains on the 60-day injured list following offseason surgery to address Haglund’s deformities in both heels. He began a running progression on March 20, but the club has yet to establish a clear timeline for his return. As is often the case with foot-related injuries, patience will be required. He's been in St. Louis this week.
My Old School Take:
You can survive injuries in April — good organizations always have. What you can’t survive is getting impatient. Rush an arm, rush a leg, and you’re not just losing April… you’re gambling with August and September. The Cardinals are handling this the right way — slow, steady, and thinking long-term. Depth isn’t something you scramble for in October. It’s something you build, day by day, in April.