In the MacKenzie Gore trade, the Washington Nationals got five pieces in return. They received Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Abimelec Ortiz and Yeremy Cabrera. We have talked about the first four prospects, but I thought Yeremy Cabrera was worth discussing too. He may be the 5th piece in the deal, but he is more than a throw in.
On prospect rankings, Cabrera actually ranks ahead of Abimelec Ortiz, but is not as close to the big leagues. Pipeline ranks him as the Nats 17th best
prospect, while Baseball America has him at 22nd. The 20 year old outfielder has an intriguing blend of speed, defense and flashes of hitting ability.
Cabrera’s best trait is his defense in center field. Baseball America considers him a 60 grade defender, while Pipeline has him at a 55. BA says he is a plus defender due to his elite combination of speed and instincts. He was actually named the Rangers Minor League defender of the year last season.
Along with the defense, Cabrera is also one of the fastest runners in the system now. He stole 43 bases in the minors last year. Cabrera was actually one of just six teenagers to post a wRC+ above 115, steal at least 25 bases and hit at least 7 homers last year. Most of these players are top 100 prospects.
While Cabrera is a legitimate prospect now, it was not always this way. He signed for just $10,000 in 2022. His minor league production and his inclusion in a major trade made this more than a worthwhile investment for the Rangers. He is a player with helium attached to his name.
While speed and defense are Cabrera’s calling card, he also shows promise at the plate. In a pitcher friendly environment, Cabrera hit .256 with a .730 OPS in A ball last year. While those numbers don’t seem like anything crazy, it was good for a 120 wRC+.
Cabrera has surprising raw power for a smaller guy, hitting max exit velocities of 110 MPH. He kept the ball off of the ground nicely as well. However, that raw power has not fully shown up in games yet. Cabrera hit just 8 homers and 12 doubles in 102 games, with a .366 slugging percentage. At just 20, there could be more in the tank though.
Getting on base is one thing that Cabrera excels at in the low minors. He posted a .364 OBP with an 11.5% walk rate last season. Those are solid numbers for a young defense first outfielder. He also has decent contact skills, with a strikeout rate below 20%.
Cabrera is never going to be a special hitter, but he should be able to hit enough to get to the MLB. His speed and defense provide a strong floor as a fourth outfielder. If the power comes around, he could be a strong side platoon guy. Left handed pitching seems to give him a lot of trouble, hitting below .200 against southpaws last year.
For a 5th piece in a trade, this is a really nice get. Yeremy Cabrera is young, athletic and has plenty of paths to becoming a big leaguer. You don’t see that much from a guy who is considered the “throw in” of a trade.
Next season will be a test for Cabrera. He should start next season at High-A Wilmington. The Nats High-A affiliate is infamous for being pitcher friendly. However, Cabrera is used to that, with the Rangers Low-A affiliate also being tough for hitters.
The Nationals have a lot of infielders in the lower minors, but not as many strong outfield prospects. Obviously, the Nats have plenty of young outfield talent in the MLB and even AAA, but as you get down to A ball, you don’t see as much talent. This means Cabrera should be able to get a lot of looks in center field.
Having watched Jacob Young for the last couple of years, Nats fans know how valuable center field defense can be. Cabrera may not be that level of defender, but he is not far off. He also provides much more offensive upside than Young. It will take him a couple years to get to the MLB, but do not be surprised if Yeremy Cabrera is a solid contributor one day.
