TAMPA — Soon after the Yankees’ 2023 season came to an end, Oswaldo Cabrera found himself playing for a different team.
Like the Yankees, Cabrera disappointed last year, hitting .211 with a .275 OBP, five home runs and 29 RBI in his sophomore season. So the 24-year-old returned to his native Venezuela to play winter ball with the Tiburones de La Guaira.
Over the course of 25 games, Cabrera seized opportunities to work on his swing, move around the diamond and play with brother, Leobaldo. The older sibling, a former Yankees prospect himself, also suited up for La Guaira over the offseason after spending the 2023 season in Indy ball.
“Playing with my brother was one of the best, most beautiful moments in baseball [for me],” Cabrera said Tuesday.
Cabrera, who has played every position except pitcher and catcher, spoke to a few reporters at the Yankees’ minor league complex. Now back in the States, he is focused on being the Yankees’ super-utility man.
With Isiah Kiner-Falefa gone, the gig is Cabrera’s to lose this spring. But he’ll have to hit a lot better than he did last year.
“I am feeling so good right now,” Cabrera said. “Obviously, I always say I can’t predict the future. But in the spot that I’m feeling right now about hitting — about all the things that I’ve been working on during the offseason — I just feel so excited about the season starting and showing the Oswaldo Cabrera games that were always there.”
Cabrera showed off his style of play in 2022, when his versatility and bubbly personality energized the Yankees down the stretch. He hit well enough over 44 games, too, slashing .312/.429/.740 with six homers and 19 RBI over 44 games.
Last year, however, Cabrera had a chance to be the Yankees’ everyday left fielder. The natural infielder looked uncomfortable there at times, and his bat didn’t lengthen his leash.
The Yankees sent Cabrera down on a few occasions, but injuries forced them to recall him quickly each time. Despite the demotions, he remained positive — perhaps too much.
“I think that was my problem last year,” Cabrera said. “I’m so optimistic. So in my mind it’s like, ‘I’m OK, I’m OK, I’m OK.'”
It wasn’t until Cabrera’s third demotion in July that he acknowledged that he didn’t feel right at the plate. From there, he began talking with RailRiders hitting coach Trevor Amicone and a mental skills coach.
Those conversations — and others that Cabrera has had with his brother, teammates and other coaches — made him think about who he is as a player. He realized he needed to “go to the field and just let it go” after admittedly losing a bit of that mentality last year.
Cabrera said that getting his confidence back was his primary goal over the winter. However, he’s been working on a few things at the plate, too.
James Rowson, the Yankees’ new hitting coach, has told Cabrera to start his swing earlier so that he’s in a better position to do damage. Cabrera was often late last season, and he put a lot of balls on the ground.
Last year, Aaron Boone also noted that he wanted Cabrera to dominate fastballs more.
“I’m focusing so much on that,” Cabrera said enthusiastically.
A switch-hitter, Cabrera also said that he hit exclusively from the left side while playing in Venezuela. He experimented with hitting lefty against southpaws late last season, stating that he did so because he was feeling so good from that side at the time.
Cabrera has continued to take left-on-left at-bats in the leadup to spring training so that he can improve his vision in those matchups. However, he still wants to be a switch-hitter.
“I think I have the ability to hit righty,” Cabrera said, though he added he’ll keep discussing the topic with Boone.
As for Cabrera’s defense, he’s played and practiced at all of his positions since the offseason began. That includes first base.
“I have to be ready every time that they need me at any position,” said Cabrera, joking that he now has a “nasty” curveball.
In all seriousness, Cabrera is embracing the chance to be the Yankees’ super-utility man and win a job out of camp. He still has minor league options, so the Yankees could send him down again. However, he’s determined to prove that that’s not necessary.
“I’m not looking at anything about the lineup or something,” Cabrera said. “I’m just so, so hungry to make the team, to do my job, to do the best that I can in the position that they need me.”
