Washington Nationals pitching prospect Cade Cavalli (elbow, illness) is dealing with the flu and will be held back a few days as a result. Cavalli is in the midst of recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had in 2023 and started a rehab assignment with High-A Wilmington last Friday, throwing three scoreless innings while striking out three. The 25-year-old has come down with the flu, though, so his next rehab start will most likely be pushed back a bit. The former 22nd overall pick in 2020 out of Oklahoma allowed seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in his big-league debut in 2022 before being shut down with an injury. Cavalli, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, should make his return to the big leagues in the second half of this season, at which point he'll be worth rostering in mixed leagues with the ability to hit triple digits as a starter.
Washington Nationals pitching prospect Cade Cavalli (elbow) began his rehab assignment on Monday in the Florida Complex League and performed well. The right-hander threw in a competitive game for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023 and tossed 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. He also allowed one hit, one walk and recorded five strikeouts. Cavalli threw 44 pitches in the contest and will continue to build his arm up. The 25-year-old is scheduled for another start in five days, and it is likely that he will continue to build up through the minor leagues before any talk of a big-league promotion at the moment. Cavalli was once the top prospect for the Nationals and still remains one of their better pitching prospects, but fantasy managers in all formats will want to monitor his recovery before making a move, as he is unlikely to make much of an impact in fantasy circles this season.
The Washington Nationals have officially sent right-handed pitching prospect Cade Cavalli (elbow) on a minor-league rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Nationals, according to the team's transaction log. Cavalli is trying to return after having Tommy John surgery, and his first rehab start in the Rookie League will be his first game action since the 2022 season. Given the nature of the 25-year-old's rehab and his long layoff, he's likely to spend all 30 days on his rehab assignment before the Nationals decide what to do with him. The team's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, allowed seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in his first big-league start in 2022 but hasn't been back to the big leagues since because of his elbow injury. Cavalli should return to the majors at some point in 2024, but fantasy managers in redraft leagues may want to temper expectations.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli (elbow) is ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League. Cavalli has been recovering from Tommy John surgery that was performed in March 2023 and has been progressing after throwing multiple bullpen sessions over the past few weeks. Once Cavalli makes his first start, then that will start his 30-day rehab block. Only dynasty managers should be concerned with Cavalli's status as he works to return to the big leagues.
Cade Cavalli Throws His Longest Bullpen Session In Recovery Process
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli (elbow) threw another bullpen session on Thursday at the team's training facility in West Palm Beach. This was his longest session (45 pitches) since recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Nationals have not changed the original timeline for Cavalli to return in late June or July, but Manager Dave Martinez said that he "threw the ball well again" and that Cavalli is "well on his way." This is an excellent sign for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who may have the 25-year-old stashed on their injured reserve. Cavalli could become worth rostering in standard leagues if he performs well after he returns later in the summer.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli (elbow) threw a 60-pitch bullpen session at the team's spring complex in West Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, and his velocity reached 96 mph. Cavalli is recovering from last year's Tommy John surgery and isn't expected to be available for the Nats until sometime later this summer, but it's encouraging to hear he's progressing in his throwing program. The 25-year-old former first-round pick is Washington's No. 5 prospect for 2024, per MLB Pipeline, and figures to eventually pick up starts on a rebuilding club and carry some mixed-league fantasy relevance at some point during the second half of the season, but his time may not come until the late stages of the campaign. Dynasty managers should be keeping a closer eye on his status than those in redraft settings.
Nationals Place Cade Cavalli On 60-Day Injured List
The Washington Nationals announced on Tuesday that they placed right-hander Cade Cavalli (elbow) on the 60-day injured list while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. In corresponding moves, the team selected the contract of right-hander Derek Law and moved infielder Trey Lipscomb to minor-league camp. Cavalli had elbow reconstruction in March of last year and is hoping to rejoin Washington's starting rotation in June of this year. The 25-year-old former first-rounder is the club's No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline and possesses an electric upper-90s fastball, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues will want to temper expectations for him when he returns from Tommy John this summer. For a pitcher that has displayed only average command so far, that could be an issue for him in the second half in 2024.
Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli (elbow), who is 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery, threw his first bullpen session on Monday and had another one on Thursday. He will continue to throw off a mound three times a week until he's cleared to face live hitters. Cavalli continues to target a full return to the majors around June, which would be 14 months after he had elbow surgery. The 25-year-old is making good progress but isn't expected to pitch in any Grapefruit League games in spring training. He was a first-round pick in 2020 out of Oklahoma and was expected to be a part of the team's starting rotation in 2022 before blowing his elbow out in spring training that year. There's plenty of upside with Cavalli, but fantasy managers will want to temper expectations for him in 2024 in his first year back from Tommy John surgery.
Cade Cavalli Not Expected To Face Hitters This Spring
Washington Nationals rookie right-hander Cade Cavalli (elbow) will be 12 full months removed from Tommy John surgery by mid-March, but the team intends to bring him along at a slower pace and he's not expected to face hitters or pitch in spring training games. The 25-year-old was ticketed for the 2023 Opening Day starting rotation and was expected to make 25-plus starts in his first extended year in the big leagues, but he felt his elbow pop on March 14 and didn't pitch all year. The target for Cavalli's return to the rotation is in June, which would put him on course to go on a minor-league rehab assignment in May to build up his innings. If everything goes well, he should be able to pitch through season's end and not be subject to a late-season shutdown in 2024. Cavalli is the club's top pitching prospect, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for him this year.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli (elbow) has a Grade 3 sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament and will require Tommy John surgery, according to general manager Mike Rizzo. It will keep Cavalli out for all of the 2023 season, and he might not be ready for the start of next season either. The 24-year-old right-hander was expected to open the year at the back end of the starting rotation, so it's another tough break for the young prospect. Cavalli suffered a shoulder injury in his MLB debut in 2022 and didn't pitch again for the Nats the rest of the year. Obviously, fantasy managers in single-year leagues can cross him off their draft cheat sheets in 2023. With Cavalli out, Chad Kuhl has the best shot to land a spot in the rotation in his place.
