WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- For the first time since 2023, Cade Cavalli is gearing up for a full Major League season healthy.
Cavalli has spent years at the Nationals’ training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla. Except most of those days, though, were during his rehab process from Tommy John surgery. This Spring Training, the right-hander is back there to establish his role in a starting rotation where the No. 1 spot is up for grabs. He threw his first live batting practice of camp on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s for sure different than 2024 and ‘25 was, because I knew I wasn’t going to be ready when the season would get going,” Cavalli said. “But it’s a similar feel to when I was getting ready for ‘23. I’m coming in with the same mindset: I want to go out, attack hitters, be the best teammate I can be, get to know these guys extremely well, and I’m just looking forward to competing here.”
The 27-year-old Cavalli has been in the Nationals organization since 2020, when he was selected with the 22nd overall pick out of Oklahoma. But up until last season, he had only been healthy enough to make one start -- his Major League debut on Aug. 26, 2022.
Cavalli returned from a lengthy Tommy John rehab on Aug. 6 last season after being sidelined for 1,076 days. He made 10 starts and showed he was back to the form the Nats had been anticipating. Cavalli went 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA in 48 2/3 innings. His comeback was highlighted by seven scoreless innings against the Phillies on Aug. 16.
“I was sad to be home, really. I was ready to go play in October,” Cavalli said. “I felt very good physically at the end of the season, which I was super excited about. I felt like I could go pitch more and more. I was kind of just getting going; that was a really good spot to be in.”
This season, the Nationals will look to Cavalli to deliver electricity on the mound. He has added a sweeper to his arsenal, which includes a four-seamer that averaged 97 mph and ranked in the 88th percentile of velocity last year. The Nats lost a hurler in January when they traded their ace, MacKenzie Gore, to the Rangers.
“Obviously, I’m sad,” Cavalli said. “We all like MacKenzie. He’s a great pitcher. And at the same time, I was super excited for him. I know he’s going to be a great teammate and player wherever he goes. There’s mixed emotions with that. Also, [I’m] really excited to meet those players [who came from Texas]. Hopefully they can come make an impact on our organization.”
That team-first attitude is appealing on a young pitching staff that is still developing in the Majors. Cavalli has already demonstrated leadership qualities in spite of spending most of his career sidelined.
“It's a personality you want to rally behind,” said manager Blake Butera. “It’s easy to pull for someone like Cade because of the humbleness. Here’s somebody that's extremely gifted, extremely talented. And the way they go about their business, you would have no idea that he is who he is and who he could be, because he treats people the right way.”
Cavalli’s main goal continues to be staying healthy. On a team level, he wants to see the players he has spent more than half a decade growing with have success.
“I sit there, and I watch playoff baseball,” Cavalli reflected. “That’s where I want to be, and I know every guy here wants to be in that position, That’s what we’re going to work for this year. We’re going to set a goal, and we’re going to try to attain it.”