The Cardinals have re-signed Packy Naughton to a two-year minor league deal, as revealed by the left-hander himself on his Instagram web page. The prolonged nature of the contract is because of one other robust harm setback for Naughton, as he stated that he underwent a UCL reconstruction surgical procedure final July. Naughton was already working his manner again from a flexor tendon surgical procedure in June 2023, although he additionally re-tore his flexon tendon along with the UCL injury.
Naughton didn’t specify if he underwent a full Tommy John surgical procedure or a brace process, although in both case, it appears unlikely that he’d be capable of pitch once more earlier than the top of the 2025 season. The 2-year contract due to this fact permits Naughton loads of time to rehab whereas nonetheless conserving him underneath St. Louis’ management for what is going to hopefully be a comeback yr in 2026.
The southpaw made his MLB debut with the Angels in 2021 after which got here to the Cardinals on a waiver declare previous to the 2022 season. Over 59 2/3 innings and 37 appearances within the huge leagues, Naughton has a 4.98 ERA, and he final pitched within the Present on April 7, 2023. He pitched in yet one more Triple-A recreation that season earlier than present process his first surgical procedure, and he threw 20 1/3 mixed innings over three ranges of the Cardinals’ farm system this yr earlier than accidents once more put his profession on maintain.
