Steven Cade Cavalli Bio
Steven Cade Cavalli (born August 14, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Bixby, Oklahoma native was selected 22nd overall by the Nationals in the 2020 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in August 2022. Cavalli has battled through injuries throughout his young career, including a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for most of 2023, but has emerged as a promising arm in the Nationals starting rotation.
Early Life and Background
Cavalli grew up in Bixby, Oklahoma, where he attended Bixby High School. During his junior year in 2016, he established himself as a two-way player, posting a 7-1 win-loss record with a 2.02 earned run average on the mound while also hitting .416 with four home runs and 47 runs batted in at the plate. His standout performance put him on the radar of MLB scouts heading into his senior season.
Unfortunately, Cavalli missed the majority of his senior year in 2017 due to a back injury, which affected his draft stock. Despite the injury, the Atlanta Braves selected him in the 29th round of the 2017 MLB draft. He chose not to sign and instead enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to continue his baseball career and develop as a pitcher.
Path to Professional Baseball
At the University of Oklahoma, Cavalli played as a two-way player for the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team. As a freshman in 2018, he appeared in 58 games, hitting .202 with six home runs and 28 RBIs while also pitching 17 and one-third innings with a 6.75 earned run average. After the season, he played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the premier summer collegiate leagues in the country.
His sophomore year in 2019 showed significant improvement. Cavalli went 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA over 12 starts on the mound while batting .319 with four home runs and 17 RBIs in 19 games at the plate. He missed approximately three weeks during the season due to soreness but recovered to perform well. That summer, he represented the United States on the collegiate national baseball team. Entering his junior year in 2020, Cavalli was recognized as the Big 12 Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year and entered the season as a top MLB draft prospect. He made four starts before the college baseball season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compiling a 4.18 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 23 and two-thirds innings.
Steven Cade Cavalli Career
Minor League Development (2020-2021)
The Washington Nationals selected Cavalli with the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft and signed him to a $3 million signing bonus. He did not appear in a professional game that year due to the minor league season being canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cavalli began his professional career in 2021 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High-A East League.
He made an immediate impact at the High-A level, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.77 ERA over 40 and two-thirds innings. His performance earned him a promotion to the Harrisburg Senators of Double-A Northeast in June 2021. That same month, Cavalli was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field in Denver. With Harrisburg, he went 3-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 58 innings across 11 starts. He earned another promotion to the Rochester Red Wings of Triple-A East in mid-August but struggled in six starts there, going 1-5 with a 7.30 ERA. Despite the Triple-A difficulties, his total of 175 strikeouts between all three clubs led all of minor league baseball for the 2021 season.
MLB Debut and Early Challenges (2022)
Cavalli returned to Rochester to begin the 2022 season and was selected to represent the Nationals at the All-Star Futures Game for the second consecutive year. On August 26, 2022, the Nationals selected his contract and made the trip to Washington, D.C., for his MLB debut at Nationals Park against the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched four and one-third innings in his debut, allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six batters and hitting three batters in a 7-3 loss. Unfortunately, Cavalli suffered right shoulder inflammation after that start and did not pitch again during the 2022 season, limiting him to just one major league appearance.
Recovery and Setback (2023)
Cavalli reported to spring training in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 2023, competing for a spot in the Nationals starting rotation. However, while pitching against the New York Mets on March 14, 2023, he sprained the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2023 season before it truly began. The injury was a significant setback for the promising right-hander who was working to establish himself at the major league level.
Return to Competition (2024)
After completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Cavalli returned to the mound during the second half of the 2024 minor league season. A case of influenza and issues with dead arm limited him to just three appearances all season. He made one appearance with the Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals in the Carolina League and two with Wilmington in the South Atlantic League, combining for eight and one-third innings with a 2.18 ERA and no decisions. Although he was healthy by the end of the minor league season, he did not receive a call-up to the Washington Nationals during 2024.
Washington Nationals Era (2025-Present)
Cavalli spent the 2024-25 offseason on a structured throwing program to build arm strength and stamina. He reported to spring training with the Nationals in 2025 and began the season with Rochester in the International League. He made 17 appearances with the Red Wings, all starts, posting a 4-7 record with a 5.35 ERA across 74 innings. His performance showed improvement as the season progressed, with his final four outings producing 25 strikeouts over 20 and one-third innings and his last two starts totaling 10 innings without a walk.
The Nationals called Cavalli up, and on August 6, 2025, he made his second major league appearance, 1,076 days after his debut. Facing the Athletics at Nationals Park, he pitched four and one-third scoreless innings, throwing 88 pitches while allowing three hits and one walk in a 2-1 Nationals victory. His four-seam fastball averaged 97.3 mph with one pitch reaching 100.1 mph. He recorded six strikeouts, becoming the sixth pitcher in Nationals team history to record 12 or more strikeouts across his first two appearances. He earned his first major league win on August 16, 2025, against the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing seven hits over seven innings while striking out five in a 2-0 victory at Nationals Park. Cavalli made 10 starts total during the 2025 season, finishing 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA and 40 strikeouts across 48 and two-thirds innings.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Cavalli features a power-oriented pitching arsenal led by a four-seam fastball that consistently sits in the upper 90s and can reach triple digits. His ability to generate high velocity has been a hallmark throughout his career and what drew the Nationals to select him in the first round. His strikeout totals throughout the minor leagues, including leading all minor league pitchers with 175 strikeouts in 2021, demonstrate his ability to miss bats at an elite level. The Nationals have been patient with his development following injuries, and his late-season performance in 2025 suggested he is rounding into the pitcher they envisioned when they drafted him.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cavalli achieved several notable milestones during the 2025 season. His August 6, 2025, appearance marked his return to the majors after nearly three years since his debut. His victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on August 16 gave him his first major league win. The 100.1 mph fastball he threw against the Athletics showcased his elite velocity. He also became just the sixth pitcher in Nationals history to record 12 or more strikeouts across his first two career appearances. With his 2025 performance, Cavalli appears to have secured a place in the Nationals rotation heading forward.
Steven Cade Cavalli Career Wins
Through the end of the 2025 season, Cavalli has compiled a 7-6 win-loss record with a 4.42 earned run average and 135 strikeouts across his major league career spanning 2022 and 2025. His professional career includes wins at both the minor and major league levels.
Major League Baseball Highlights
In MLB, Cavalli earned his first career victory on August 16, 2025, when he pitched seven solid innings against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. His 2025 season was his first significant stretch of major league action, as he made 10 starts and earned three wins against one loss. He accumulated 48 and two-thirds innings pitched with 40 strikeouts during the 2025 campaign. His debut in 2022 consisted of one appearance against the Cincinnati Reds where he did not factor in the decision.
Minor League Achievements
In the minor leagues, Cavalli accumulated wins across multiple levels during his climb through the Nationals system. He went 3-1 with Wilmington in 2021 before his promotion to Harrisburg, where he posted a 3-3 record. His strong 2021 season, which included 175 total strikeouts across three levels, established him as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. His recovery season in 2024 was limited to just three appearances due to illness and arm issues, but he remained unhittable when he did pitch, posting a 2.18 ERA.
Steven Cade Cavalli Family
Family background information for Steven Cade Cavalli is not extensively documented in publicly available sources. He grew up in Bixby, Oklahoma, and attended Bixby High School, where he first gained recognition as a baseball player. He comes from a family that supported his athletic pursuits from a young age, though specific details about parents and siblings are not publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Beyond his baseball career, Cavalli has kept much of his personal life private. He has focused on his recovery and development following the Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2023 season. The Nationals organization has expressed patience and confidence in his long-term potential as a frontline starter. His ability to return from multiple injuries and perform well in the 2025 season demonstrates his resilience and dedication to the sport.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a breakthrough year for Cavalli after years of injury setbacks. He began the year at Triple-A Rochester, where he worked to refine his command and build up his pitch count following his lengthy recovery. While his 4-7 record with a 5.35 ERA in 17 starts may not jump off the page, his trajectory was sharply upward as the season progressed. The Nationals coaching staff noted marked improvement in his stuff and confidence during the second half of his Rochester assignment.
His call-up in early August proved to be a turning point in his career. The velocity that made him a first-round pick returned, with his fastball averaging nearly 97 mph and touching 100 mph in his second start. His performance against the Oakland Athletics and Philadelphia Phillies showed glimpses of the pitcher the Nationals envisioned when they drafted him. The 10 starts he made down the stretch gave him valuable major league experience that should benefit him moving forward.
Looking ahead, Cavalli appears positioned to be a key part of the Nationals rotation going forward. His stuff remains electric when healthy, and the 2025 season showed he can compete at the major league level. The Nationals will likely limit his workload early in 2026 as they continue to manage his arm following the Tommy John surgery, but the foundation he built in 2025 suggests he can develop into an impact starter for years to come.