Cavalli's Opening Day start at Wrigley a full-circle turn for 'Rookie of the Year' superfan

CHICAGO -- Cade Cavalli estimates he has watched "Rookie of the Year," the 1993 baseball classic, “hundreds of times.” It was a childhood favorite for Cavalli and his brother, a film that embedded early sights and scenes of Wrigley Field into his memory.

Cavalli wrote his own narrative at the historic ballpark on Thursday afternoon. It was a comeback movie: the story of a hurler who battled through three years of injuries to earn the role of the Nationals' 2026 Opening Day starter.

"It was great,” Cavalli said after the Nats' 10-4 victory against the Cubs. “I’m so pumped that we got a win today and that I was able to start us off. The offense backed me up like crazy. It just means a lot.”

The Nationals were hyped up to have Cavalli on the mound for Game 1. They have seen him persevere through injuries, including Tommy John surgery, and setbacks during the recovery process. Cavalli grinded for 1,076 days between his Major League debut and his return to the mound last August.

"You could just tell how good he felt [in Spring Training], his body, and that he was ready to kind of let it go, and that was awesome to see today,” said center fielder Jacob Young. “He’s always going to compete with the best of them, and he has some pretty good stuff when he is healthy. It was great to see him out there having fun and just doing his thing.”

This spring, Cavalli was a clubhouse favorite to become the 10th different Opening Day starter in team history (2005-present). He joined Max Scherzer (six times: 2015-16, '18-21), Stephen Strasburg (four times: 2012-14, '17), Liván Hernández (three times: 2005-06, '11), John Lannan (twice: 2009-10), Patrick Corbin (twice: 2022-23), MacKenzie Gore (2025), Josiah Gray (2024), Odalis Pérez (2008) and John Patterson (2007).

"It’s a huge honor,” said long reliever Brad Lord. “The Opening Day starter, it’s a big ask. You set the tone for the year. A lot of nerves, a lot of pressure. He went out there and competed his tail off and did amazing.”

With workload in mind, the Nationals capped Cavalli at 75 pitches on the day. He threw 3 2/3 innings with three hits, three runs (two earned), three walks and five strikeouts. He has held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in his six starts dating back to Sept. 2, 2025.

"It’s not easy to go out there and pitch in front of that crowd -- in some tough weather, too -- and do what he did against that lineup,” said manager Blake Butera, “which is a really, really good lineup.”

Cavalli had been to Wrigley Field twice before reaching the big leagues. When he was in Chicago for a workout with the White Sox, his father took him to a Cubs game the following day. He also went to Wrigley as a teenager to see fellow Oklahoman Archie Bradley pitch for the D-backs.

"I just love baseball,” Cavalli said during Spring Training. “Wrigley has been a part of baseball forever. I've watched a ton of games there, whether it was on TV or getting to see it in person. So it's just really cool to be pitching in it.”

And Opening Day, Cavalli was in the very same role of those pitchers he watched growing up.

"You know that no matter what, if it’s mano-a-mano, you have a pretty good chance with him on the mound,” said Young. “That gives us a lot of confidence, and it was awesome to see us get that first win for him.”