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Oswaldo Cabrera

Oswaldo Alberto Cabrera (born March 1, 1999) is a Venezuelan professional baseball utility player for the New York Yankees of (MLB). Signed by the Yankees as an international free agent on July 2, 2015, Cabrera made his MLB debut on August 17, 2022, after progressing through the team's system. Known for his versatility, he has played multiple positions including third base (125 games), (134 games), first base (24 games), second base (23 games), and (18 games) across his career, while also appearing as a in one game. In his rookie season of 2022, Cabrera appeared in 44 games, batting .247 with 6 and 19 RBIs. He followed with 115 games in 2023 (.211 average, 5 , 29 RBIs), 109 games in 2024 (.247 average, 8 , 36 RBIs), and 34 games in 2025 (.243 average, 1 , 11 RBIs) before a season-ending injury. Over 302 career MLB games through the 2025 season, he has maintained a .234 , 20 , 95 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases, with an percentage of .641. Cabrera has contributed to the Yankees' postseason efforts, appearing in the and Championship Series, as well as the 2024 ALDS, ALCS, and . Cabrera's 2025 season was cut short on May 12 when he suffered a fractured left ankle and damage while sliding into home plate against the Seattle Mariners, requiring and placement on the 60-day . The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year, with an expected return in 2026. Despite the setback, he has been noted for his positive impact on the Yankees' clubhouse during rehabilitation.

Early life

Birth and family background

Oswaldo Cabrera was born on March 1, 1999, in Guarenas, , . He grew up in a close-knit environment in this industrial suburb of , where sports played a central role in daily life. Cabrera's father, Leobardo Cabrera, is a former professional volleyball player who competed in Venezuela. Leobardo not only pursued his own athletic career but also actively coached and prepared his sons for competitive sports, fostering a household dedicated to physical discipline and teamwork. This paternal influence extended to both volleyball and baseball, instilling in Oswaldo an early appreciation for athletic rigor and versatility from a young age. Cabrera has two older brothers, Eleardo and Leobaldo, both of whom pursued professional baseball careers; he is the youngest of four children. Eleardo Cabrera, born in 1995, signed with the organization in 2013 and played in their system as an and pitcher before electing in 2020. Leobaldo Cabrera signed as an international with the Yankees in 2015, appearing in their for four seasons as an . The brothers' shared passion for , combined with their father's guidance, created a competitive family dynamic that encouraged Oswaldo to develop his skills and pursue athletics as a primary focus during his formative years.

Introduction to baseball

Oswaldo Cabrera's early interest in was profoundly shaped by his two older brothers, Leobaldo and Eleardo, who both played the sport growing up in Guarenas, . As the youngest of four siblings, Cabrera began playing at age 3, often alongside his brothers, which ignited his passion for the game and motivated him to pursue it seriously. From ages 13 to 16, Cabrera honed his skills at the academy run by former MLB in , , a three-hour drive from his home. His father supported this commitment by driving him there every Sunday and picking him up on Fridays for three years, allowing focused training that prepared him for a path. This academy environment emphasized discipline and fundamentals, drawing inspiration from Venezuelan legends like and Guillén himself. Cabrera developed his switch-hitting ability during his teenage years, starting at age 12 when coaches in encouraged him—originally a natural right-handed hitter—to try batting lefty during a youth game his team was winning 8-1. His first at-bat from the left side was successful, solidifying the skill and adding versatility to his profile. Concurrently, he built foundational positional skills as a player, beginning as a before shifting to infield roles due to injuries from his brother Eleardo's hard-throwing pitches, and later experimenting with positions to enhance his adaptability. Before his international signing, Cabrera participated in local youth leagues in , competing in games and practices that built his competitive edge from a young age. These experiences, combined with family encouragement, laid the groundwork for his emergence as a versatile talent.

Professional career

Minor league career

Cabrera signed with the Yankees as an international on July 2, 2015, receiving a signing bonus of $100,000. He made his professional debut in 2016 with the DSL Yankees 2 of the , where he batted .441 with one and 12 RBIs over 19 games before earning a quick promotion. Cabrera then joined the GCL Yankees of the Gulf Coast League, hitting .298 in 26 games, and finished the year with the of the , posting a .240 average in 26 games with one . Overall in his first season, he appeared in 52 games across three levels, batting .345 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. In 2017, Cabrera split time between the of the New York-Penn League and the of the , combining for a .252 , four home runs, and 53 RBIs in 112 games. He returned to Charleston for the full 2018 season, where he hit .229 with six home runs and 48 RBIs across 126 games, showing improved power while adjusting to full-season ball. Cabrera advanced to the Tampa Tarpons of the in 2019, batting .260 with eight home runs and 56 RBIs in 120 games, demonstrating versatility across multiple infield positions. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the , delaying his progress. Cabrera resumed play in 2021 with the of the Double-A Northeast, where he had a breakout year, batting .256 with 24 home runs and 78 RBIs in 109 games while leading the league in hits (112), RBIs, extra-base hits (54), and (215). For his performance, he was named the Double-A Northeast and a Postseason . He was promoted to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders late in the season, hitting .500 with five home runs in nine games. Over his minor league career through 2021, Cabrera played in 528 games, batting .263 with 47 home runs and 270 RBIs.

2022 season

Cabrera was called up to the major leagues by the Yankees on August 17, 2022, and made his MLB debut that same day as a defensive replacement at in a game against the at . He went 0-for-4 at the plate in his debut but contributed defensively in the Yankees' 4-0 victory. The following day, on August 18, 2022, Cabrera recorded his first MLB hit, a double to right-center field off Baltimore Orioles pitcher in the bottom of the fourth inning during a 4-1 win. Throughout the remainder of the 2022 season, Cabrera emerged as a versatile utility player for the Yankees, appearing at multiple positions including second base, third base, shortstop, left field, right field, and center field to provide depth amid injuries and roster needs. His defensive flexibility was particularly valuable, as he logged starts across the infield and outfield while maintaining a positive fielding percentage in limited opportunities. Offensively, Cabrera showed promise as a switch-hitter, with his first MLB home run coming on September 11, 2022, a two-run shot to right-center field off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Corey Kluber in the second inning of a 10-4 Yankees win. Later that month, on September 21, 2022, he hit his first career grand slam, a first-inning blast to right field off Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Roansy Contreras, helping the Yankees secure a 14-2 rout and marking the team's second grand slam in as many games. In 44 games during the 2022 season, Cabrera batted .247 with a .312 and .429 , including 6 home runs and 19 RBIs while drawing 15 walks and stealing 3 bases. These contributions helped solidify his role as a reliable bench option for the Yankees, who finished with a 99-63 record and advanced to the .

2023 season

In 2023, Oswaldo Cabrera experienced his first full season in Major League Baseball with the New York Yankees, appearing in 115 games primarily as a versatile utility player across the infield and outfield. He started the year with expectations of expanded playing time following his late-2022 debut, where his multi-positional capability had already shown promise. Cabrera logged 92 games in the outfield—split between left and right field—and 27 games at various infield spots, including third base, second base, and shortstop, providing managerial flexibility amid injuries and roster needs. Offensively, Cabrera batted .211 with 5 home runs, 29 RBIs, and a .574 across 384 plate appearances, reflecting moderate production in a and bench role. Early in the season, the 24-year-old Venezuelan faced notable adjustment challenges in the high-pressure environment, slumping to a .196 and .499 over his first 28 games while grappling with overthinking at the plate—"trying to do too much," as he described it. These difficulties culminated in an option to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in early June, where he refined his approach before a midseason recall. Cabrera delivered several standout moments amid his inconsistencies, including a go-ahead ninth-inning single on April 12 that sparked a 4-3 comeback win over the . Defensively, he flashed his athleticism with highlight-reel plays, such as a diving catch in left field to rob a hit on April 8 against the Baltimore Orioles and another diving stop on April 28 versus the Toronto Blue Jays. Late in the year, he ignited a hot streak in September, going 8-for-22 with three extra-base hits and five walks over six games—including his first since June on September 16—which bolstered the Yankees' depth during their push for a berth. Though his postseason role was minimal—going 0-for-2 in the series—Cabrera's overall utility and resilience contributed to the Yankees' lineup stability as they clinched an spot on the final day of the regular season.

2024 season

In , Oswaldo Cabrera appeared in 108 games for the Yankees, showcasing his positional versatility by playing primarily at third base (74 games) while also seeing time at first base (13 games), second base (13 games), (6 games), and in (6 games). His offensive contributions included a .247 , .296 , .365 , 8 s, and 36 RBIs over 299 at-bats. These figures marked a solid rebound in his production, with improved power evident in his home run total and extra-base hits that provided key support during the Yankees' postseason run. Cabrera's defensive reliability stood out, particularly at third base, where he made highlight-reel plays such as a leaping catch to rob a hit in May against the Seattle Mariners and a diving stop to secure a win in August versus the . He also turned an unassisted during the ALCS against the , contributing to the team's advancement to the , where he appeared in 7 postseason games overall. Off the field, Cabrera received the 2024 Joan Payson & Shannon Forde Award for Community Service from the Chapter of the , recognizing his charitable efforts.

2025 season

Cabrera entered the 2025 season competing for the Yankees' starting third base role, leveraging his prior versatility across multiple positions to secure regular playing time early on. He appeared in 34 games before his injury, batting .243 with one and 11 RBIs in 107 at-bats, but offered no standout contributions amid a slow start for the team. On May 12, 2025, during a game against the Seattle Mariners, Cabrera suffered a while sliding into home plate to score a run, requiring an to remove him from the field. The Yankees immediately placed him on the 10-day , and he underwent shortly after to repair the and associated damage. In response, the team reinstated from his own injury rehabilitation and adjusted the infield alignment, with third base duties shifting among other utility players. Cabrera was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 19, 2025, as the injury sidelined him indefinitely and made his return a longshot for the remainder of the season. Rehabilitation progressed steadily through the summer; by early June, he expressed optimism despite the Yankees' indication that the injury was likely season-ending, and in August, he described his recovery as going "great" while walking without assistance and intensifying workouts in hopes of a late return. However, he did not play again in 2025, with the team confirming his expected return in 2026 following full recovery. The absence forced ongoing roster adjustments, including call-ups from the minors to cover infield depth throughout the year.

Personal life

Marriage

Oswaldo Cabrera has been in a longtime relationship with Ari Gonzalez, whom he met prior to achieving widespread recognition in . The couple's bond, which began around 2023 during Cabrera's early years with the Yankees, provided a stable foundation amid his rising professional demands. Cabrera proposed to Gonzalez in early 2025, with the engagement announced publicly on March 16 via , marking a significant personal milestone shortly after . They married on July 16, 2025, in an intimate ceremony in , coinciding with the MLB week following the game in . Cabrera attended the wedding in a walking boot, recovering from a season-ending ankle injury sustained in May that required surgical intervention. As newlyweds, Cabrera and Gonzalez have navigated the challenges of his , blending personal joy with the demands of his recovery. Cabrera has approached this period with characteristic optimism, focusing on while cherishing the support from his new wife during what could have been a isolating time. This transition underscores how the marriage has offered emotional resilience as he works toward a potential return in the 2026 season.

Community involvement

Oswaldo Cabrera has been recognized for his dedication to , particularly through initiatives supporting youth and underprivileged children. In , he received the Joan Payson & Shannon Forde Award for Community Service from the New York Chapter of the , honoring his off-field contributions that embody excellence in charitable work. Cabrera's efforts prominently feature youth baseball programs in , where he hosts annual camps to teach skills, , and fundamentals to children aged 6-17. For instance, in May 2025, he organized a youth camp at Macombs Dam Park in . Due to a recent , Yankees teammates provided personalized instruction, group photos, and awards like Camp MVP to participants, fostering inspiration and growth among local kids. These programs create safe spaces for young athletes to develop, drawing from Cabrera's own journey from to . As part of the Yankees' community outreach, Cabrera actively participates in charity events aimed at underprivileged children, including those addressing and . In March 2024, he chaired the New Jersey Community Sleep Out across multiple locations, encouraging participants to spend a night outdoors to raise awareness and funds while visiting programs to connect with affected youth. He has also engaged in fan meet-and-greets and watch parties that benefit organizations like the Center for Disability Services, signing autographs and interacting with children and adults in programs for the disabled. Even during his from a broken left ankle sustained in May 2025, Cabrera maintained his involvement through in-person appearances and supportive roles in charitable activities. In September 2025, while sidelined, he attended events for the Center for Disability Services in , greeting students from schools and providing commentary at a fundraiser watch party, emphasizing his commitment to bringing joy to participants regardless of his physical condition.

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