As a pitcher, “wild game” is not a phrase you want to see next to your box score. But, if you’re Oklahoma Sooners’ right-hander Cade Cavalli, “wild game” is your catch after a long day of deer hunting the big bucks. The “big bucks” he’ll be hunting as a Major League pitcher will be a little greener.

For the Houston Astros, projecting any possible draft picks in 2020 is a risky proposition. It’s possible the 2020 MLB Draft will be, for the ‘Stros, merely a spectator sport. Sanctions from front office suspensions to loss of one or many of their draft picks are reported to be coming from Major League Baseball, as they continue their investigation into the team’s alleged electronics-aided sign stealing in 2017.

But, the Astros are on the board for the time being, and already, mock drafts are being compiled for the three-day event, which begins June 10 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Houston is penciled in at the last spot, #30, right behind their coastal rivals the New York Yankees (#28) and Los Angeles Dodgers. MyMLBDraft.com has Cavalli still available for Houston to nab at their slot.

Several other mocks, however, have the 21-year-old going higher: Both Prospects Live and Through The Fence Baseball have him going to the Minnesota Twins at #27, while FanGraphs ranks him 15th, which lands him in the lap of the Philadelphia Phillies. MLB.com ranks Cavalli as the 28th-ranked draft prospect.

Legacy Sooner

Raised in the Tulsa suburb of Bixby, Cade Cavalli had no chance of actually signing with the Atlanta Braves, who selected him as a Bixby High School senior in the 2017 draft. Signability questions, as well as health issues, drove Cavalli’s stock down considerably.

He was taken in the 29th round (880th overall) by the Braves that year. Any self-respecting athlete would have no problem eschewing such a draft death knell to attend college and hope to improve his draft lot three years later.

Plus, it’s possible the Braves had no idea that Cavalli was, “A Sooners fan, born a Sooners fan, and it’s just like I knew I wanted to play here, and as soon as I got the opportunity, I took it,” as Cavalli would tell The Oklahoman in March 2018. “I’m thankful for Pete (Hughes, the Sooners’ former coach) for giving me that. I’m so blessed to be here.”

Cade’s father, Brian Cavalli, spent time on the Sooners as a catcher before a season in the low minors with the then-California Angels presented itself in 1993.

Cade was actually a power-hitting corner infielder (and shortstop… and basketball player) at Bixby High starting out. In fact, he didn’t take the mound for the Spartans until he was a sophomore, and ultimately missed most of his senior season with back issues, barely taking the mound at all. That didn’t stop him from emerging as Oklahoma’s top high school pitching prospect in 2017, prompting the late-round interest from the Braves.

CAMO Ammo

Grinning and gregarious, Cavalli is a frequent golfer and an avid outdoorsman who also enjoys duck hunting in the eastern Oklahoma brush. He can often be seen bow hunting deer on weekends with a handful of Sooner buds and his brother, Tristian.

Cade also knows his way around a set of nunchucks, although local wildlife need not be alerted.

What the Scouts See

While at Bixby, Prep Baseball Report clocked Cavalli’s pitches at the following speeds: Fastball, 91-94 mph; curve, 76; change, 80-82, and slider, 82-86.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

“I’m Really Excited With the Results”

Following his 2018 OU freshman campaign (where he pitched minimally, striking out 18 batters in 17.1 innings, and a 6.75 ERA), Cavalli pitched in five games and made three starts for the Wareham Gatemen of the summer Cape Cod League. Against wood bats, he put up a 4.15 ERA, while striking out 15 batters in 13 innings.

“Last year was tough,” Cavalli told the OU Daily about his disappointing 2018. “Obviously I struggled, everyone knows that, but we worked on my approach. I’m really excited with the results, but I just have to stay in the process.”

Throwing a wrench into his process, Cavalli missed three weeks with a stress reaction in his arm during his 2019 sophomore season. Nevertheless, he managed to cobble together a 3.28 ERA in 60.1 innings (12 games), giving up 53 hits and 35 walks, while striking out 59, and earning a first-team All-Big 12 selection.

Team USA

Cavalli was the lone Sooner chosen to participate on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team during the summer of 2019. He only threw 2.2 innings against Cuba, allowing one run on three hits, with a K and two walks. But, according to USA Today, “Cavalli looked to be healthy as scouts reported Cavalli was hitting 96-98 mph.”

Finally realizing a lifelong desire, Cavalli tweeted in August, “Had an unbelievable summer and got to finally fulfill a dream and goal of mine playing w/ Team USA. Unforgettable experience. But gosh dang I am ready to get back to war with my guys wearing the crimson and cream…”

Staying Healthy Through the Draft

Many teams, including the Astros, who routinely have Oklahoma covered with scouts, will be attracted to Cavalli’s prototypical power-pitcher build, especially on a college player who turns 22 in August 2020. The overall health, though, of the strapping 6’4″ 224-pound communications major will be under close scrutiny by all during his spring 2020 junior season.