The Washington Nationals received devastating news on their top pitching prospect. RHP Cade Cavalli has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament and will require Tommy John surgery, Nats general manager Mike Rizzo announced Thursday.
Cavalli showed discomfort after a pitch during his latest spring training start against the New York Mets. He breezed through 2 2/3 innings. He surrendered no hits but issued one walk with one strikeout. There was a lot of excitement for another strong spring performance from the 2020 first-round pick. Then the mood shifted as Cavalli faced Mets centerfielder Brandon Nimmo.
Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz called for a changeup. Cavalli delivered the 87 miles per hour pitch and immediately noticed something wasn’t right. Cavalli shook his pitching arm after the pitch. Nimmo saw Cavalli’s reaction and signaled to Ruiz, prompting Nats manager Davey Martinez and the team’s head athletic trainer Paul Lessard.
The Nationals selected Cavalli in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma. The 6-foot-4 power pitcher has been recognized as the Nats’ top pitching prospect. He got his first MLB call-up last August.
Cade Cavalli made his MLB debut on Aug. 26 in a start against the Cincinnati Reds. That start didn’t go well, as he hit three batters with pitches and allowed seven runs through 4 1/3 innings. The Nationals shut him down for the rest of the season shortly afterward with shoulder inflammation.
The 24-year-old Cavalli entered spring training not guaranteed a spot in Washington’s starting rotation. However, he looked the part with his performances in spring training before the injury. In three games, he posted a 1.59 ERA. With Cavalli down for the year, the Nationals expect to place veteran Colby Kuhl fifth in the rotation.
As the Nationals prepare for a rebuilding 2023 season, some of its focus will shift to getting Cavalli back to full strength. In the meantime, Washington will have to wait another year to roll out a rotation featuring Cavalli with fellow top prospects MacKenzie Gore and Josiah Gray.
