Washington Nationals’ Cade Cavalli exits start with elbow issue; headed for MRI

Context part:

[ed. note – “This is how we started our planned article on Cade Cavalli’s start vs the New York Mets on Tuesday, trying to give some context for where he was at going into the outing as he got ready for the start of the 2023 campaign. Cavalli, 24, was expected to be in the Washington Nationals’ rotation this season, after debuting (and then injuring his shoulder), late last year, but he left yesterday’s start with an elbow issue. More on that follows…”]

Cade Cavalli started last week’s game against Israel’s WBC team, including four of the final five batters the 24-year-old 2020 first-round pick faced with 51 pitches out in the exhibition game. , took 6 in the starting lineup. I was more interested in the mistakes I made while out and about than the strikeouts I collected when I talked to reporters after being out.

Two tough stretches in which he gave up three singles and one run he allowed in the first were outstanding for Cavalli.

“I got some outs,” he said, Words by Mark Zuckerman of MASN“I only did one run. Every time I put myself in that little jam, I tried to minimize the damage.”

The third single driven in the run was a two-out hit, in an 0-2 offering, leaving Cavalli in the middle of the zone on a pitch he wanted to get up.

“I wanted it up, so I left it in the middle,” Cavalli said.

“I made a mistake and paid for it.

The fact that he was concerned with righting the mistakes he made in the first place was, according to his manager, an insight into the kind of competition Cavalli has when he’s on the mound.

“This is what he’s trying to learn,” said Davey Martinez.

“But I love him because he’s eager to learn and eager to get better. You know what you’re getting at.”

“He’s going to be aggressive and attack the zone. That’s great.”

Mistakes are likely to occur along the way as Cavalli grows in the job, but it’s part of the process the club tries to make for top pitching prospects.

“There are going to be some growing moments with him, but I love the way he goes out and attacks,” explained the nut skipper. I know what I need to do.”

Cavalli in action against the New York Mets on Tuesday in the Grapefruit League…

Not a scout report:

[ed. note – “It was a rare opportunity this spring to watch the Nationals in Grapefruit League action, and a chance to see Cavalli build on the previous outing described above, so we did try to watch him closely to see how was doing in his development and his attempts to work on what he didn’t like last time out, and take notes for the article on his start…”]

First place: 97 mph with 13 firsts, 11 strikes, and four seamers, averaging 96+ and going 0-2 with all three batters in a quick and efficient inning, 7 of 13 pitched (54%) .

The second: After going 1-0 behind in the first AB, he popped up Daniel Vogelback on a 1-2 pitch. After falling behind 2-1, he walked Mark Cahna and was awarded a strike when the hitters were not ready when the clock fell to :08. Luis Guerme, high and uncompetitive FB went 0-2. He scored a weak grounder on an over-the-top curveball and exchanged words with Guillaume as he left the field. It seems the Met wasn’t happy with what he saw as a quick pitch.Going 0-1 to Mark Vientos on the curveball, going 0-2 on the changeup (90 MPH), and going 0-2 on the outside dirt. I drew a curve and swung at and came in 3rd place. 1st strikeout. Up to 12 curves per second (43%), so far more curves than fastballs.

The third: After throwing several fastballs fouled by Brett Beatty, he scored a ground ball on a 1-2 curveball. He dropped to Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez in a 1-1 curveball, and on the changeup he grounded out in third. [41]* A pitch with two outs. With Brandon Nimmo he went 0-1 on curve, 1-2 behind, missed on curve, high on fastball, injured on fastball…on [43rd]*pitch. Cavalli threw it down and reacted so strangely that Nemo stopped and started, gesturing to catcher Keibert Lewis in a “check your boy” sort of way… for a short chat. on the mound, after which Cavalli was lifted.

[ed. note – “ * = SNY had Cavalli up to 43 pitches before he threw the final pitch on which he apparently got injured, which is why there is a discrepancy between what we tweeted out & what MLB.com (43) and Baseball Savant (40) had as the final pitch count.”]

Aftermath (AKA DOOOOOOM section):

“We saw him waving his arms, so we went out and talked to him and took him out,” manager Dave Martinez said. In the words of MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato“He said he felt something behind his throwing elbow.”

Cavalli asked the manager to throw another ball to test his elbow, but the skipper didn’t have it.

“He said, ‘Let me throw the pitch,'” Martinez said. “I’m like, ‘Absolutely not. Come on. I’ll check it out and see what’s going on, then I’ll put it back on ASAP.'”

Rich Story-USA TODAYSports

Martinez didn’t want to speculate anything until Cavalli had an MRI today, but according to catcher Kievert Ruiz, it wasn’t a positive way to end the outing the pitcher had been doing up to that point. I’ve been seeing him ever since I knew him.

It’s too early to speculate on such things, but Martinez has been asked about filling the rotation if Cavalli misses any significant amount of time.

“I think there are enough guys in camp and they’re actually being stretched.” [Cavalli] Checked out. “