Vaqueros ace set to return from injury

As the baseball season looms closer, the Vaqueros are welcoming graduate starting pitcher Angelo Cabral to the rotation, following a long recovery from  ulnar collateral ligament (Tommy John) surgery.

He underwent the procedure following an elbow injury he sustained during the 2024 season opener. He allowed no runs and took a no-decision against the Rhode Island Rams (5.0 IP, 8Ks, 1BB). 

In an interview with The Rider, Cabral said he felt something was off in his elbow during the fourth inning of that Feb. 18 start last year.

“I felt like a really sharp pain go up by elbow,” he said. “I went back out there for the fifth inning and got out of it, but then after that [and] the next day I couldn’t pick up a ball, so I knew something had happened that game.”

The injury, surgery and subsequent recovery process sidelined him for the remainder of the season, a huge blow for the Vaqueros in their final season in the Western Athletic Conference.

Prior to his injury, Cabral had an outstanding season in 2023, pitching to a 3.22 ERA, striking out 76 and walking only 22 in 72.2 innings pitched, holding opposing batters to a .236 average and a 1.19 WHIP.

He led the WAC in wins that season (10-2), becoming the first 10-win pitcher in program history since Sam Street’s senior season in 2014 for the University of Texas–Pan American Broncs (12-2).

Cabral said his recovery has been “on schedule” as he regains his strength and gears for a return to the pitching staff.

“I’ve been on routine,” he said. “[I’m] just trying to make sure I’m getting back to where I was last year and get a little bit stronger so that nothing like that happens again and [to] be able to support the team as best I can.”

UTRGV Baseball head coach Derek Matlock is looking forward to Cabral’s return, saying that his change-up looked good and that his fastball was reaching 91 to 92 mph.

“Any time you get an all-conference guy [back] … our hopes are really high for him,” Matlock said. “He’s a hard worker, bought into the process and [he’s] an outstanding pitcher.”

Asked if Cabral will be ready to pitch by the time the season opens, he replied, “Oh, yeah!” Matlock also said Cabral would be on a pitch limit in his first game, keeping him to 65 pitches in his first start.

Cabral is looking forward to the 2025 season and to be able to be a part of the Vaqueros rotation again.

“I’m excited,” he said. “Everybody’s ready to go. Everybody’s got my back and we’re ready [for] a good, long season.”

Chase Haselhorst, assistant strength and conditioning coach, said the recovery process is not just physical but mental as well. 

“It’s a long road to recovery,” Haselhorst said. “Not just the physical side but the mental side too, just making sure we’re being encouraging every step of the way.”

He said although “it’s tough” to have lost Cabral to injury, he praised Cabral for his character and leadership during the recovery process, adding that, “It’s been incredible to watch.”

“The ability in him to come in every day and not change his mood and not have the ebbs and flows and just stay consistent, that speaks to his character,” Haselhorst said. “And he’s just been a leader of this team too, I think, and stepped up in that regard too.”

As the returning ace, Cabral is expected to pitch series opening games on Fridays. This lines him up for his return against the Southern Illinois Salukis on Feb. 14 at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.