*Photo from MLB Trade Rumors*
One of baseball's promising young pitchers is going to have to wait a while before he truly makes noise. Washington Nationals RHP Cade Cavalli suffered a grade 3 sprain of his UCL and requires Tommy John Surgery, according to the team.
While pitching in a spring training game on Tuesday, Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that Cavalli felt something behind his throwing elbow. He was promptly removed from the game and underwent further testing, which revealed the UCL sprain.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said of Cavalli that "I do know one thing. He's going to rehab with the same ferocity and attitude that he pitches with. Although he was a little emotional at the beginning, and that’s normal, I think it’s safe to say this guy is going to be a rehab machine and really get after it, and really make himself better when he comes back."
After being drafted by the Nationals in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Cavalli quickly worked his way through the minor leagues and made his debut in 2022 with one start. He was well on his way to breaking spring training with the Nationals in a rotation spot. Now, he's out of commission until at least the start of the 2024 season.
Cavalli will have the surgery done by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas next week and will do his rehabbing at the Nationals spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann are Nationals pitchers who have returned stronger following the surgery.
Asked about how he took the news, Cavalli said that "I gave myself a little bit of time to cry and to hurt. But during that meeting with them, it was just kind of like, it is what it is, and it’s time. It was just, a little flip the switch and I’m ready. I am. I’m ready to rock. I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be better. I promise. I’m very excited about this."
Cavalli was expected to be part of a young Nationals rotation alongside Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore. Now, the rotation is projected to consist of Gray, Gore, Patrick Corbin, Trevor Williams, and non roster invite Chad Kuhl, in camp on a minor league contract.
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