Waiting on Packy Naughton

The Cardinal Chronicle
The Trainer’s Table: Waiting on Naughton
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

The St. Louis Cardinals are still awaiting clarity on left-hander Packy Naughton following his abrupt exit from Wednesday’s outing with Triple-A Memphis.

As of Thursday afternoon, April 9, there has been no official roster move and no confirmed diagnosis from the organization. Naughton remains listed on the Memphis Redbirds’ active roster, a sign that the club is still in the evaluation phase.

That’s not unusual.

In situations like this, the Cardinals typically wait for MRI results and additional medical opinions before making anything formal. Until those results come in, everything remains in a holding pattern.

Where Things Stand
• Status: Active roster (Memphis)
• Injury: Left arm (details not yet confirmed)
• Action: Under evaluation — imaging pending
• Expected Move: Likely 7-day IL if injury confirmed

If the early concern proves valid, the next step would likely be placement on the 7-day Minor League Injured List, with the possibility of a longer-term designation depending on the results.

The bigger picture is this injury carries a little more weight than your typical early-season injury note.

Naughton isn’t just another arm trying to find innings — he’s a pitcher who has already walked a hard road back. Multiple elbow procedures, including Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repairs, have already cost him significant time over the past two seasons.

That history matters, because when a pitcher with that kind of medical file grabs his arm mid-outing… you don’t assume minor.

What makes this one injury hard to take, is the timing, because before Wednesday night, Naughton had quietly put himself back on the radar:

• Spring ERA: 1.50
• Six strong appearances
• Trending toward a possible MLB call-up

He had done the work. Put himself back in position. Earned another look.

And now — after just three pitches everything pauses.

What Comes Next
The next 24–48 hours will tell the story.

Expect one of three outcomes:

- 7-day IL placement (most likely, pending imaging)
- Extended IL / Full-season IL if structural damage is confirmed
= A rare best-case scenario where the injury proves less severe

Until then, the Cardinals will wait — and so will everyone else.

Because in this game, especially with pitchers, you don’t rush the truth.

You hate writing these article, not because injuries are part of the game — they always have been — but because you know what it takes for a man to climb back after surgery… and how quickly it can be taken away again.

Naughton had earned his way back into the conversation.

Now we wait to see if he has to start that climb all over again.

 
The Cardinal Chronicle
Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future