ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 8: Packy Naughton #70 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 8, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Packy Naughton #70 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
On Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals will open up a series with Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels in California.
They are coming off a series where they dropped two out of three games to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
Getty Packy Naughton #70 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 8, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Ahead of Monday's series, news came out that Packy Naughton had retired.
The 30-year-old head appeared in three Triple-A games earlier this season.
He made a heartfelt post to Instagram.
Naughton wrote in part of his long post: "Later, getting the opportunity to wear the Birds on the Bat with the St. Louis Cardinals changed everything. Learning what it truly takes to compete at the highest level, navigating the ups and downs of the big leagues, and eventually running onto the field as part of an Opening Day roster are memories I'll carry with me forever.
People always tell you to play until they take the jersey off your back. I truly believed that's how my career would end. Unfortunately, it came sooner than I had hoped.
After multiple elbow surgeries, countless hours of rehab, and giving everything I had to get back on the mound, my body has made the decision for me. My elbow just can't do it anymore. I gave this game everything I had, and then some. While I'm proud of that, it doesn't make writing these words any easier."
GettySAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 20: Packy Naughton #70 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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