As return date nears, Cavalli stays focused on the process

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – When he threw his first pitch off the mound Monday, Cade Cavalli could have flashed right back to the last time he performed such an act, that horrible day nearly one year ago and about 50 miles up the road in Port St. Lucie when he tried to throw a changeup to Brandon Nimmo and felt his elbow ligament snap in the process.

Instead, Cavalli chose to focus on what this moment – his first bullpen session since Tommy John surgery – meant for him. There was no feeling of regret, only a feeling of achievement and optimism for what he hopes will come in another few months when he finally pitches for the Nationals again.

“To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it much,” the right-hander said when asked about the pending anniversary of his injury. “I just want to forget about it and move on. I’ve got a new elbow. It’s a new me. That’s how I’m approaching it. It’s been a great 11 months.”

Cavalli already was something of a “power of positive thinking” guy before any of this happened. The injury only pushed him to embrace that mindset even more as he began the long, slow, often infuriating process of rehabbing from ligament replacement surgery.

“It’s something that happens, and I believe like I said to you guys 11 months ago, it’s how you look at it and how you approach it,” the 2020 first-round pick said. “If you just approach it with a positive mindset – that this is a blessing in this moment, and I believe God is putting me through something to get me stronger to be able to help this club in the long run – that’s what my mindset’s been.”

A positive outlook is wonderful, of course, but positive results are ultimately more important than anything else. To this point, Cavalli appears to have enjoyed those as well.

After six months of strict rehab, he was cleared to begin throwing in late September. He spent most of the offseason in West Palm Beach, continuing the slow build-up of arm strength required in this process. He began throwing off a low-angle, artificial mound a few weeks ago. Then he was given the green light this week to throw off an actual mound.

“I think he’s on track,” general manager Mike Rizzo said. “His progression has been great. He’s a diligent worker, and he’s a really good patient. He follows the protocol to the T, and our guys always know you’re going to have to pull him back a little bit. He follows them up to the edge, and we pull him back a little bit. That’s how I think we want our guys.”

Cavalli knows he’s not going to make the Opening Day roster. He probably won’t even pitch in a Grapefruit League game, his live action debut more likely coming on a back field in extended spring training.

He has been targeting an official return to the majors sometime in June, which would be 14-to-15 months removed from surgery. The Nationals see no reason to push up the timeline, because he’ll be on a tight innings limit this year anyway. They’d rather have him debut later but know he can finish out the season without being shut down.

“I can’t just go out and throw as hard as I can right now,” he said. “I have to control the intensity. That requires a ton of patience. Because you’ll be feeling normal. I feel like I could rip this pitch right now. It’s just not smart. It requires patience, and that’s been a big learning thing for me.”

Whenever Cavalli does get the chance to make his long-awaited second career start – his Aug. 26, 2022 major-league debut was followed by an IL stint due to a stiff shoulder – he’ll do so with a new look. He slimmed down considerably over the winter, embarking on a strict diet with his fiance, Maddie. And he recently switched uniforms, deferring the No. 24 jersey he intended to wear last year to newly signed left fielder Joey Gallo.

Cavalli will now wear No. 9, joining the growing-but-still-short list of pitchers who wear single digits. There is a purpose to this switch: Cavalli is honoring his older brother, Tristian, who wore No. 9 himself before his pitching career came to an abrupt halt as a high school senior in 2016 when he needed emergency thoracic outlet surgery.

“It was tough, but he set a great example for a younger brother,” Cavalli said. “Watching him go through that process gives you another outlook on life. In this sport, tomorrow is not promised, so be grateful for where you are today. ... He’s been an extremely, extremely positive role model in my life.”

It will all make for a great story whenever the day comes, but then the real hard work follows. Cavalli needs to prove he’s healthy first, then he needs to prove he can be a successful big-league pitcher.

The Nats have built much of their long-term hopes on Cavalli teaming up with MacKenzie Gore and Josiah Gray to give the organization the kind of young pitching core it has lacked for a while.

“I’m sure looking forward to seeing him pitch,” Rizzo said. “I think he’s going to help us immensely, one of those starting pitchers we all covet.”