Hokie ClubLOS ANGELES – Before the final chapter of the 2021 Freeway Series had closed at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, one former Hokie was handed the ball to turn his lifelong dream into a hallowed reality.
Decked out in the red alternate tops, socks and caps of the Los Angeles Angels – with a bright No. 58 on his back – Packy Naughton made his MLB debut in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Four years after toeing the rubber in Blacksburg, Naughton ascended the hill in Chavez Ravine as the Hokies' 21st player all-time to have made it to 'The Show.' The six-foot-two left-hander from West Roxbury, Massachusetts, upped Virginia Tech's current count of major leaguers to four, joining the ranks of Jesse Hahn (Kansas City), Joe Mantiply (Arizona) and Chad Pinder (Oakland).
Naughton's first task out of an MLB bullpen could not have been staged against a more intimidating lineup than that of the defending world champion Dodgers (67-45). Standing between him and his first inning of work were Trea Turner and Max Muncy – two of the top 15 National League players ranked in OPS – with Albert Pujols and Corey Seager looming behind.
With the Angels (56-56) facing a 5-1 deficit, Naughton scattered a leadoff bloop single to nine-hole pinch hitter Billy McKinney before the Dodgers' lineup turned over. Retiring Turner on a deep fly to left field, he sat Muncy down next on a dribbler short of the pitcher's mound, completing a soft underhand toss to former Virginia infielder Phil Gosselin.
Naughton's debut could have ended more efficiently had circumstances not shifted against his control. Weathering a mid-inning interruption caused by a disorderly fan, he surrendered an RBI single to A.J. Pollock on his first delivery after the disruption, triggering the Angels to call for an intentional walk of Pujols.
However, Naughton relied on his slider to work out of the jam, inducing the inning-ending ground ball from Seager.
From 2015 to 2017, Naughton made 52 appearances on the mound for the Hokies, serving the staff in a hybrid role during his freshman and junior seasons while leading the 2016 squad in both starts (14) and strikeouts (74). Carving 172 strikeouts into his Virginia Tech career, he was taken by the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth round of the 2017 MLB Draft at No. 257 overall – Tech's sixth highest selection during the 2010s.
Naughton shined for the Billings Mustangs during the 2017 Rookie season, logging a 3.15 ERA across his 14 appearances on top of being named to the Pioneer League All-Star Game. He established himself as a starting pitcher the following season in Single-A with the Dayton Dragons, registering a 4.03 ERA and 137 strikeouts while making 28 starts in the Midwest League.
Rising within the Reds organization, Naughton began the 2019 season in High-A with the Daytona Tortugas of the Florida State League, boasting a 5-2 record and a 2.63 ERA through his first nine starts with the club. On May 25, he earned promotion to Double-A with the Chattanooga Lookouts, locking down a 3.66 ERA across this final 19 starts of the year inside the Southern League.
Enduring the 2020 Minor League Baseball hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Naughton was packaged by the Reds with Jose Salvador in a Aug. 31 deal with the Angels that sent Brian Goodwin to Cincinnati.
After accepting a non-roster invitation to spring training in February 2021, Naughton was briefly assigned to the Angels' Double-A affiliate (Rocket City Trash Pandas) before his promotion to Triple-A on May 11. During his third start with the Salt Lake Bees (May 23), he struck out eight batters and accounted for seven and two-thirds innings of the staff's combined one-hitter at Las Vegas.
Prior to making his MLB debut, Naughton had attained a 3.82 ERA across his 82 minor league appearances, compiling 382 strikeouts for his 426 and two-thirds innings pitched.
Welcome to The Show, @Packy_8! pic.twitter.com/GBRPdDeIkE
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 8, 2021