Cade Cavalli averaged 96 miles per hour with his fastball, making it a maximum of 97.4 miles per hour. New York Mets On Tuesday, he mixed two swing strikes and two call strikes on his curve (38%), 15, a slider (15%), and a changeup (8%), but had the third of three changeups. After that he threw. The 24-year-old, a 2020 first-round pick, has responded in a way that has gotten the attention of his catcher, manager, and team’s trainer.
“I saw him waving his arms, so I went out and talked to him and took him out,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters. In the words of MLB.com’s Jessica Cameratoafter Tuesday’s Grapefruit League game in Washington.
“He said he felt something behind his throwing elbow.”
“As soon as he threw the last pitch, I saw him doing something different with his arm,” Nationals catcher Keibert Lewis said when asked what he saw. “That’s why we called Time and Davey and the trainer. [Paul Lessard] I went there. I hope everything goes well and I feel bad for him and us.
Martinez didn’t want to jump to conclusions before the young starter went to an MRI and got the results, but he clearly had concerns about the prospects of the top pitchers in the organization.
While waiting to find out what the pitcher was feeling behind his elbow, he also tried to empathize with the pitcher.
“He was trying to stay positive,” Martinez said. “I said to him, ‘Get your head up. You don’t know. Wait until I take a picture of that thing, then let’s go from there.’
“I’m not going to assume anything,” added the captain. Words by Mark Zuckerman of MASN“…because these things can be…we don’t know.
There was no update on Wednesday, but Nuts GM Mike Rizzo provided the following press release Thursday morning:
“Right-handed pitcher Cade Cavalli injured his right elbow in Tuesday’s third-round game against the New York Mets. MRI results reveal a grade 3 ulnar collateral ligament sprain requiring Tommy John surgery. became.
“Although Cade won’t pitch in 2023, he remains a very important part of the franchise’s future and we look forward to his return to the mound.
“We will provide updates on his surgery as they become available.”
Cavalli’s future is currently uncertain, but the Nationals will inevitably move forward with plans for a starting rotation, and Martinez explained that he will give veteran right-hander Chad Cool a chance to claim a spot in Cavalli’s absence. .
“Chad Cool is about to get his chance now.” As quoted by MASNsports.com, Martinez said:
Asked if he felt the club would have to look outside the organization for help, Martinez said he felt there was enough arsenal within the company to fill the void.
“Yeah, not now,” Martinez said. “I feel really comfortable with the people we have now.”
Here’s what Rizzo and Cavalli had to say Thursday after the official diagnosis announcement from GM.
When Cade Cavalli found out he needed Tommy John surgery, he gave himself “a little time to cry and get hurt” and flipped the switch to rehab mode. And I’ll get better, I promise.” https://t.co/66122bQv4d
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 16, 2023
