Washington Nationals pitching prospect Cade Cavalli needs Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery and will miss the 2023 season, general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday.

This is brutal news for the Nationals. The injury is a Grade 3 sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Nationals watched Cade Cavalli mow down the Mets. He looked every bit the part of a future ace.

With an upper-90s fastball, two different types of sharp breaking balls and an occasional changeup, the 24-year-old right-hander was at his very best.

Cavalli exited his spring training start against the New York Mets after pitching 2 2/3 innings on Tuesday.

“The 24-year-old Cavalli was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft after playing college baseball at Oklahoma. He made his major league debut in August against the Cincinnati Reds, then felt something in his shoulder while playing catch the next day and was shut down for the rest of last season,” as per The Associated Press.

Cavalli was expected to be a significant part of the team’s starting rotation for the 2023 season.

Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli. Photo courtsey of WTOP

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