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
Rotowire
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.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Rehabbing in FCL
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Dealing with illness
Rotowire
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: Resuming rehab Friday
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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: Cleared for rehab assignment
Rotowire
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: Builds up to 45 pitches
Rotowire
Cavalli (elbow) threw 45 pitches over the equivalent of 2.2 innings in a live bullpen session Friday at the Nationals' spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals are being deliberate with the 25-year-old's recovery from March 2023 Tommy John surgery, but Cavalli is in the home stretch. The team hasn't indicated when he might begin a rehab assignment, but it appears he could join the big-league rotation in late June or early July.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Touches 98 mph in live BP
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that Cavalli's (elbow) fastball averaged 96 miles per hour and touched 98 mph in a 20-pitch live batting practice session Monday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Martinez came away impressed with how the right-hander looked, noting that Cavalli threw the ball "really well." Cavalli would appear to be nearing a rehab assignment, although he might be asked to throw another live BP or two at extended spring training first. He's working his way back from March 2023 Tommy John surgery and could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in June.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Up to 96 mph in bullpen session
Rotowire
Cavalli (elbow) touched 96 mph during a 60-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Cavalli is working his way back from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in March 2023. He should be cleared to face hitters next, with a rehab assignment soon to follow. Cavalli could eventually be an option for the Nationals' rotation, but he's on the 60-day injured list and will need plenty of time in the minors first.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Should face live hitters this month
Rotowire
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said April 6 that Cavalli (elbow) is expected to begin facing live hitters at some point this month, MLB.com reports.
Throwing live batting practice sessions would mark a step forward in Cavalli's recovery from his March 2023 Tommy John surgery, as the right-hander had been limited to tossing bullpen sessions during spring training. Cavalli will likely face live hitters in controlled settings for a few weeks before eventually heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment that will likely last for most of the 30-day rehab window. Cavalli opened the season on the 60-day injured list and isn't on track to make his 2024 debut until at least late May, though a June return is probably more realistic.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Placed on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Cavalli (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Derek Law. Cavalli hopes to return in June from Tommy John surgery.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Throwing bullpens to begin camp
Rotowire
Cavalli threw a bullpen session Monday and got back on the mound again Wednesday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The Nationals are targeting a June return for Cavalli, but at least to begin the spring he doesn't appear to be significantly behind the other arms in camp. The right-hander will throw off a mound three times a week until he gets clearance to face live hitters, but he's not expected to see any game action during spring training. Cavalli, a first-round pick in 2020, posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB across 97 Triple-A innings in 2022 and was expected to be part of last season's rotation for the Nats before getting injured in spring training.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Won't face hitters this spring
Rotowire
Cavalli (elbow) isn't expected to see game action this spring or face hitters as the Nationals take a cautious approach to his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The 25-year-old right-hander is almost 12 months removed from the surgery, but the Nats have little reason to push him to get back on a mound as they plan for another rebuilding year. Cavalli is likely to remain in extended spring training after camp breaks, and he could join the big-league rotation in June if everything goes smoothly. He made his big-league debut in 2022 after posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 104:39 K:BB through 97 innings at Triple-A Rochester, and the 2020 first-round pick remains the organization's top pitching prospect despite the setback with his elbow.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Begins throwing program
Rotowire
Cavalli (elbow) played catch Tuesday and said he "felt awesome," Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
It was his first throwing workout of any kind since he underwent Tommy John surgery this past March. Cavalli is targeting next June for a return to live games and could be an intriguing rotation option for the Nationals in the second half of the 2024 campaign. A first-round draft pick in 2020, the right-hander holds a 3.51 ERA with 279 strikeouts in 220.1 career minor-league innings.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Lands on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Cavalli (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. Cavalli will likely be out until around midseason next year following Tommy John surgery.
