Cade Cavalli Bio
Steven Cade Cavalli is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected 22nd overall by the Nationals in the 2020 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 2022. A right-handed starter known for a high-velocity fastball, he returned to the Nationals’ rotation in 2025 after a long recovery from elbow surgery.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Cavalli starred at the University of Oklahoma before becoming one of the top pitching prospects in his draft class. After injuries slowed his climb through the minors, he reestablished himself in 2025 and became a regular contributor to the Nationals’ starting staff.
Early Life and Background
Steven Cade Cavalli was born on August 14, 1998, in Bixby, Oklahoma. He grew up in the Tulsa metropolitan area and attended Bixby High School, where he starred on the baseball team. As a junior in 2016, he posted a 7-1 win-loss record with a 2.02 earned run average (ERA) at Bixby High School and also contributed as a hitter, batting .416 with four home runs and 47 runs batted in.
His senior season in 2017 was cut short by a back injury, which limited his exposure to professional scouts. Despite the abbreviated campaign, the Atlanta Braves selected him in the 29th round of the 2017 MLB draft. Cavalli chose not to sign with Atlanta and instead enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to play college baseball for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Path to Baseball
At Oklahoma, Cavalli split time between pitching and hitting during his freshman year in 2018, posting a 6.75 ERA over limited innings while batting .202 with six home runs. That summer he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, gaining exposure to high-level competition. As a sophomore in 2019, he went 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA and showed improved offensive production, batting .319 with four home runs.
He also represented the United States collegiate national baseball team that summer, further raising his profile. Cavalli entered 2020 as a top prospect and was named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year. He made four starts before the college season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finishing with a 4.18 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 23+2⁄3 innings.
Cade Cavalli Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
The Washington Nationals selected Cavalli with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft. He signed for a $3 million signing bonus but did not appear in a minor league game during 2020 after the season was canceled because of the pandemic. He was assigned to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High-A East to open 2021 and made his professional debut there.
After going 3-1 with a 1.77 ERA over 40+2⁄3 innings at Wilmington, he was promoted to the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Northeast on June 14. Cavalli was later selected for the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field. In mid-August, following an 11-start stretch in which he went 3-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 80 strikeouts, he moved up to the Rochester Red Wings of Triple-A East, where he went 1-5 with a 7.30 ERA. His combined 175 strikeouts across the three levels in 2021 led all minor leaguers.
Washington Nationals Debut (2022)
Cavalli returned to Rochester to begin 2022 and was again selected to represent the Nationals at the All-Star Futures Game. The Nationals selected his contract on August 26, 2022, and he made his MLB debut that night at Nationals Park against the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched 4+1⁄3 innings and allowed seven runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in a 7-3 loss.
He did not pitch again that season after the start because of right shoulder inflammation. Despite the brief debut, the outing marked his arrival as one of the organization’s top young arms.
Washington Nationals Era (2023-Present)
Reporting to spring training in 2023, Cavalli was contending for a spot in the starting rotation when he suffered a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow during a March 14, 2023, outing against the New York Mets. He underwent Tommy John surgery, which ended his 2023 season and began a lengthy rehabilitation.
He returned to the mound in the second half of 2024 but was limited to three minor league appearances by an influenza illness and a “dead arm” period, throwing 8+1⁄3 innings with a 2.18 ERA and no decisions. After a normal 2024-25 offseason, Cavalli began 2025 in Triple-A Rochester before rejoining the Nationals in August. On August 6, 2025, he made his second major league appearance 1,076 days after his first, throwing 4+1⁄3 scoreless innings against the Athletics. He earned his first major league win on August 16, 2025, pitching seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. In 10 starts during the 2025 season, he went 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA and 40 strikeouts across 48+2⁄3 innings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cavalli relies on a power arsenal built around a four-seam fastball that averaged 97.3 mph and touched 100.1 mph in his 2025 return. He pairs the fastball with a sharp breaking ball and a changeup, and his velocity plays well in the strikeout-heavy modern game. His ability to miss bats, combined with improving command late in 2025, has positioned him as a foundational piece of the Nationals’ rotation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cavalli’s selection 22nd overall in the 2020 draft and his $3 million signing bonus marked the Nationals’ first-round investment in his upside. His 175 strikeouts in 2021 led the minor leagues, and his selection to two All-Star Futures Games highlighted his prospect status. In 2025, he became the sixth pitcher in Nationals history to record 12 or more strikeouts in his first two major league appearances.
Cade Cavalli Career Wins
Cade Cavalli’s verified major league win total sits at three through the 2025 season, all of which came in his return year with the Nationals. His first MLB victory came on August 16, 2025, against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he worked seven strong innings in a 2-0 win. He added two more wins across his 10 starts down the stretch.
MLB Highlights
Cavalli’s first MLB win against the Phillies on August 16, 2025, was a defining moment in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. He worked seven innings, allowed seven hits, and struck out five batters in the 2-0 victory at Nationals Park. Across his 10 starts in 2025, he finished 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 48+2⁄3 innings.
Other Wins & Performances
In the minor leagues, Cavalli’s 2021 campaign stood out, as he recorded three wins at Wilmington, three at Harrisburg, and one at Rochester, with 175 strikeouts across all three levels to lead the minors. He also earned a win during his strong finish at Rochester in 2025, going 4-7 overall in 17 starts there with a 5.35 ERA before his call-up.
Cade Cavalli Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Cade Cavalli’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Bixby, Oklahoma, and developed his baseball skills at Bixby High School, where he starred as a two-way player. Further verified details about his parents and any extended baseball lineage are not widely available.
Personal Life
Cavalli resides in the Washington, D.C., area during the baseball season while playing for the Nationals and spends offseasons close to his Oklahoma roots. Confirmed details about a spouse, partner, or children are not part of his public record at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Cade Cavalli’s 2025 season represented a hard-fought return to the major leagues after two lost seasons. He opened the year with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League, making 17 starts and going 4-7 with a 5.35 ERA over 74 innings. His performance improved sharply in his final outings, with 25 strikeouts over his last 20+1⁄3 innings and no walks in his last two starts covering 10 innings.
The Nationals recalled him in August, and he made his second major league appearance on August 6, 2025, against the Athletics. He followed that with his first MLB win on August 16 versus the Phillies, and he ultimately made 10 starts for Washington, going 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 48+2⁄3 innings. The strong finish cemented his place in the team’s rotation plans.
Looking ahead, Cavalli’s combination of a high-velocity fastball, rising strikeout totals, and improving command position him as a building block for the Nationals. With Tommy John surgery behind him and a full offseason of health, he is expected to be a key part of Washington’s starting rotation heading into 2026 and beyond.
