Asdrúbal Cabrera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Asdrúbal Cabrera |
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Cabrera with the Washington Nationals in 2020
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| Infielder | |||
| Born: November 13, 1985 Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| August 8, 2007, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 2021, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .266 | ||
| Home runs | 195 | ||
| Runs batted in | 869 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Asdrúbal José Cabrera (born November 13, 1985) is a former professional baseball player from Venezuela. He played as an infielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. Cabrera was known for being a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both the left and right sides of the plate. He was also a two-time All-Star. Throughout his career, he mainly played shortstop and second base, but also spent time at third base and first base.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Asdrúbal Cabrera grew up in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, with his parents. His father was a truck driver, and his mother was a homemaker. His family said that he started hitting from both sides of the plate when he was only three years old! As a young boy, Cabrera looked up to Venezuelan shortstop Omar Vizquel. When he was about 15 or 16, he made a deal with his dad: he would leave school to focus on baseball. If he didn't get signed by a team within a year, he would go back to school. Luckily, a scout for the Seattle Mariners noticed him when he was 15, and his baseball journey began.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Cleveland Indians
The Seattle Mariners signed Cabrera in 2002. Later, in 2006, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He played in their minor league system before making his big league debut.
Cabrera first played in Major League Baseball on August 8, 2007, for the Cleveland Indians. He played second base in that game. A few days later, he got his first MLB hit, which was a double. He hit his first home run on August 18, 2007. Cabrera quickly became the team's everyday second baseman. He helped the Indians have a great season in 2007, batting well in important late-game situations. He wore a special white beaded necklace made by his wife for good luck, which earned him the nickname "Pearls."
In 2008, Cabrera made baseball history! On May 12, he performed the 14th unassisted triple play in MLB history against the Toronto Blue Jays. This means he made three outs by himself in one play without anyone else touching the ball. It was an amazing moment! He caught a line drive, stepped on second base, and then tagged a runner. Later that season, he improved his hitting and finished with a .259 batting average.
In 2009, Cabrera hit his first career grand slam (a home run with the bases loaded). He had a fantastic season, batting a career-high .308 with 6 home runs and 68 RBI. He also stole 17 bases. In 2010, he broke his left forearm but returned to play later in the season.
The 2011 season was a standout year for Cabrera. He hit 25 home runs, which was a record for a shortstop on the Indians team. He also had 92 RBI and a .273 batting average. Because of his great performance, he was chosen for his first All-Star team. He also won the Silver Slugger Award, which is given to the best offensive player at each position.
Cabrera continued to play well for the Indians in 2012 and 2013. He was selected for his second All-Star team in 2012. He hit a "walk-off" home run in 2012, which means his home run ended the game and won it for his team.
Moving to the Washington Nationals
In 2014, Cabrera was traded to the Washington Nationals. He finished the season playing for both the Indians and the Nationals. He helped the Nationals reach the playoffs that year.
Playing for the Tampa Bay Rays
In 2015, Cabrera signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in 143 games and hit .265 with 15 home runs.
Time with the New York Mets
Cabrera joined the New York Mets in 2016. He had a strong season, batting .280 with 23 home runs. He even hit a crucial three-run home run in the 11th inning of a game in September 2016, helping the Mets win and get closer to the playoffs. He played for the Mets until 2018.
Short Stints with Other Teams
In July 2018, Cabrera was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He played 49 games for them. In 2019, he signed with the Texas Rangers. He played 93 games for them before being released in August.
Return to the Washington Nationals
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Just a few days after leaving the Rangers, Cabrera signed back with the Washington Nationals in August 2019. This was a great move for him and the team! He played very well, batting .323 with 6 home runs in a short time. The Nationals went on to win the 2019 World Series that year, and Cabrera was a key part of their championship team. He even started at second base in the final Game 7 of the World Series, helping the Nationals win their first-ever championship.
Cabrera stayed with the Nationals for the 2020 season, which was shorter due to world events. He played 52 games and continued to hit home runs and drive in runs.
Final MLB Seasons
In 2021, Cabrera signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played 90 games for them, hitting 7 home runs. Later that season, he was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds and played his final 20 MLB games with them before becoming a free agent.
Venezuelan Winter League
After his MLB career, Cabrera continued to play in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. In November 2022, he was involved in an incident during a game that led to a suspension.
Coaching Career
As of May 2025, Asdrúbal Cabrera was announced as the new manager for the Caribes de Anzoátegui team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League for the upcoming 2025–26 season.
Personal Life
Asdrúbal Cabrera lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Lismar, and their two children, Meyer and Ashley. He and Lismar met in school in Venezuela and got married in 2007. In April 2019, Cabrera and his wife became American citizens.
See also
In Spanish: Asdrúbal Cabrera para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
