On and off the field, the Nationals have been reestablishing themselves as a formidable rival. Manager Davey Martinez is in charge of the development of the young players that general manager Mike Rizzo has put together. Two of these guys, though—Cade Cavalli and Josiah Gray—have spent the better part of this year on the sidelines. For the past two months, Gray has been a part of the club’s recovery. Tomorrow, he will depart for the first time since landing on the IL.
The team’s facility in West Palm Beach is where the top pitching prospect has spent the majority of his rehabilitation, and Cavalli has been making rounds between the two locations. If the Nationals are in Miami, their former first-round pick will be there to greet them, and he will also accompany them on trips back to Washington, DC, whenever possible.
Both injured starters are eager to get back into the rotation as soon as possible. The Nationals have 30 days from the start of Gray’s rehab assignment to either reinstate him or shut him down. Cavalli is putting his time in the locker room to good use by getting to know his teammates and studying games like a pro.
While on the mound, Gray and Cavalli are assisting the rotation by listening to pitching coach Jim Hickey, pitching strategy Sean Doolittle, veterans Patrick Corbin and Trevor Williams, and conversing with other pitchers during games.
