Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Could be factor in second half
Rotowire
Cavalli will have his workload managed in the early part of the season, with the goal being to have him in the big-league rotation later in the year, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old right-hander has pitched just 8.1 innings over the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2023, but Cavalli is healthy to begin spring training and threw a bullpen session Thursday. "When you see him throw and he's healthy and in the right frame of mind and the right shape, the sky's the limit for that guy," general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday. "His first bullpen today was terrific, and we're just going to take it slow with him. But to have him healthy and pitching like he's capable of is exciting to me." A first-round pick in 2020, Cavalli displayed his upside in 2022 when he posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB over 97 Triple-A innings, and he's expected to get a chance to regain that form with Triple-A Rochester to begin the current campaign before the Nats give him another crack at big-league hitters.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Deemed healthy for spring
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Manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Cavalli (elbow) is healthy, but the Nationals plan to manage the right-hander's workload this season, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. "He had a good winter," Martinez said of Cavalli. "He looks great. We know he's going to be limited in how many innings he pitches this year, so we want to make sure when he does get out there, we do have him the whole season."
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2023, Cavalli missed that entire season and was limited to just three minor-league rehab appearances in 2024, with none coming after June. He came down with a bout of the flu and then dealt with a dead-arm phase for a large chunk of the second half of last season, but he was at least able to ramp his throwing back up in September. Cavalli seems to have emerged from his offseason throwing program free of setbacks, so he should be facing relatively few restrictions this spring, aside from the Nationals managing how many live innings he throws. Martinez left the door open for Cavalli to compete for a roster spot with the big club, but given the extended time he missed in addition to his limited MLB experience (he made one start for the Nationals in 2022), the 26-year-old is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Rochester.
Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Not returning this season
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Cavalli (elbow) will continue to work through his throwing program but won't pitch in games before the end of the season, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The right-hander began the season on the injured list while completing his recovery from Tommy John Surgery in May 2023, but a "dead arm" phase over the summer derailed his rehab assignment. Cavalli will continue to build up his arm over the final weeks of the regular season, but he'll head into 2025 with plenty of uncertainty coming off consecutive lost seasons.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Throwing bullpen session
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Cavalli (elbow/arm) will throw a 20-to-25 pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The bullpen session -- which will feature all fastballs -- will be his first time throwing off a mound since he had to be pulled off his rehab assignment in mid-July due to a "dead arm" phase. Cavalli had made three rehab starts in the lower minors as he works his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery. It's going to take a while for him to get ramped back up, and it's not clear whether the 26-year-old will have a shot to make it back before the end of the season.
Cavalli (elbow) reported to the Nationals' Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Cavalli was sent to resume his minor-league rehab assignment at High-A Wilmington on July 26 but never appeared in a game for the team. Now, he'll join the Nationals' FCL affiliate. Manager Dave Martinez said that Cavalli will be ramping up his arm in Florida with the hopes of returning to a mound before the end of the season. It's unclear what resulted in the multi-week setback for Cavalli, who was already behind schedule after an illness forced him to halt his rehab assignment in late June. Cavalli shouldn't be expected back for several weeks.
Cavalli (elbow/illness) was sent to High-A Wilmington on Thursday to resume his rehab assignment.
Cavalli hasn't pitched in more than a month, as he was pulled off his initial rehab assignment due to the flu. The right-hander is coming back from Tommy John surgery and there's been no indication he had a setback with his elbow, and he's now ready to ramp things back up. Cavalli had pitched well in his first three rehab starts, collecting a 2.16 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 8.1 innings. He'll need some time to get built back up but could be a candidate for the Nationals' rotation within the next month or so.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Rehab assignment on pause
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Cavalli (elbow/illness) had been scheduled to report this week to the Nationals' spring training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. to continue his rehab program, MLB.com repoorts.
On the mend from Tommy John surgery, Cavalli began his second rehab assignment June 21 with High-A Wilmington, but he hasn't pitched since then after coming down with the flu. Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reported July 3 that Cavalli's rehab assignment had been shut down, but the Nationals haven't provided any word that the right-hander is dealing with a setback with his elbow. Since it has been almost four weeks since Cavalli last pitched, he will need to time to get stretched back out whenever he's cleared to resume his rehab assignment, so a return from the 60-day injured list doesn't seem imminent. He turned in a 2.16 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 8.1 innings across his first three rehab appearances.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Cavalli (elbow) is dealing with the flu and will be held back for a few days during his minor-league rehab assignment, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Cavalli moved his assignment Friday to High-A Wilmington and struck out three over three scoreless innings as he continues to work his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last spring. The illness isn't a long-term concern for Cavalli, and he'll likely be back on the mound with Wilmington or another affiliate in the near future.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Sharp in rehab start
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Cavalli (elbow) struck out three and fired three scoreless, no-hit innings for High-A Wilmington on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The right-hander had his rehab from Tommy John surgery paused in late May, but he was brilliant in his return to the mound as he threw 35 pitches and allowed just one baserunner to reach base on a walk. The Nationals have been cautious with Cavalli's recovery, but he appears to be entering the final stages of his rehab and could return from the 60-day injured list following the All-Star break.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Resuming rehab Friday
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Cavalli is expected to throw three innings at High-A Wilmington on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Cavalli's three-week rehab pause was attributed to rest rather than a setback in his Tommy John recovery. Still, Cavalli will see game action for the first time since May 30 on Friday, returning to Wilmington to continue his assignment. It's likely he won't be ready for reinstatement until closer to the All-Star break.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Slated for live batting practice
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Cavalli (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
The Nationals pulled Cavalli off his rehab assignment earlier this month, although they referred to it as merely giving the pitcher a break rather than it being a setback as he comes back from Tommy John surgery. Since he's facing hitters again, the righty figures to resume his rehab assignment soon. He could be an option for the Nationals' rotation after the All-Star break.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Getting break from rehab stint
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Cavalli (elbow) hasn't pitched since May 30, but the Nationals are simply giving him some rest before the final push in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. "Just giving himself a little break, a little breather," manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday. "He's been pushing himself pretty hard. We're still ahead of the game a little bit. We just want to ease up a little bit."
The 25-year-old right-hander underwent the procedure in March 2023, and the organization is making sure he'll be fully recovered when he finally comes off IL. Cavalli has struck out 10 batters in 5.1 innings over his first two rehab appearances, one in the Florida Complex League and one with High-A Wilmington, but the Nats have yet to set a date for his next start. He's expected to join the big-league rotation before the end of the month.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Whiffs five in second rehab start
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Cavalli (elbow) gave up two earned runs on no hits and three walks while striking out five over 2.2 innings Thursday in a rehab start with High-A Wilmington.
Cavalli, who is on the mend from March 2023 Tommy John surgery, made the second appearance of his rehab assignment after previously covering 2.2 scoreless innings in the Florida Complex League on May 20. Though he didn't allow a hit Thursday, Cavalli struggled with his control. In addition to issuing three walks, Cavalli threw 30 of his 54 pitches for strikes, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches. He'll look to iron out his control in the subsequent starts during his rehab assignment, which is likely to last until around mid-June.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Sharp in first rehab start
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Cavalli (elbow) struck out five and allowed one hit and one walk in 2.2 scoreless innings Monday in a rehab start for the Nationals' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate.
Seeing his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2023, Cavalli simply overmatched FCL hitters over 44 pitches. The 25-year-old right-hander touched 97 miles per hour with his fastball, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, and the one hit off him came from MLB veteran Jose Abreu. Washington will now have 30 days to decide whether Cavalli is ready to join the big-league rotation in mid-June, but if the front office decided he needs more time to complete his recovery, he could be optioned to Triple-A Rochester. Either way, Cavalli should be back on the 26-man roster at some point this summer.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Cleared for rehab assignment
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Cavalli (elbow) has been assigned to the Florida Complex League Nationals to begin a rehab assignment, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Working his way back from Tommy John surgery, Cavalli's 30-day rehab clock will begin once he makes his first rehab start. It will be the 25-year-old's first game action since 2022. Cavalli should eventually be an option to join the Nationals' rotation this season, but how soon that will be figures to depend largely on how he looks over the next several weeks.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Rehab window set to open
Rotowire
Cavalli (elbow) is ready for a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Once Cavalli makes his first start, his 30-day rehab clock will start. One of the Nationals' top pitching prospects, Cavalli underwent Tommy John Surgery in March of 2023 and is finally ready to pitch in-game. Assuming he can avoid any setbacks, he's on track for a June return.
