ROCHESTER, NY - After undergoing Tommy John surgery two years ago, Cade Cavalli reported to AAA Rochester on April 29 to begin his rehab assignment, with Washington as his ultimate destination. He last pitched in Rochester in 2022, making 20 starts and performing well that season. Cavalli posted a 3.71 ERA in 2022, a significant improvement from his 7.30 ERA the previous year—a nearly four-run drop. He began Spring Training in 2023 with a couple of strong starts, and all signs pointed to him starting that season with the Nationals. However, an arm injury requiring Tommy John surgery derailed, but did not end, Cavalli’s dream of pitching in the major leagues.

Cavalli was scheduled for a longer start of five to six innings on April 29 against the first-place Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, marking his first Rochester start of 2025. The first inning went well: he faced four batters, walked one, and struck out two. In the second inning, however, he faced six batters, all of whom made solid contact. Even the outs were hard-hit line drives. He allowed two singles before Oscar Mercado hit a three-run homer. After that inning, Cavalli felt arm fatigue, and Manager Matt LeCroy pulled him from the game.

Cavalli missed his next start, but tests showed nothing structurally wrong, so he returned 11 days later to face the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Scheduled for three innings, Cavalli started with two shutout frames. After two and a half innings, the Red Wings led 5-0. In the third, with two outs and the bases loaded after several walks, former National Dominic Smith hit a grand slam. Cavalli finished with 2.2 innings pitched, allowing five runs on three hits, walking three, and striking out two. His ERA in Rochester ballooned to 15.43 after two starts.

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