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 | ||
| Hits | 1,763 | ||
| 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 many teams. These teams included the Cleveland Indians, Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cincinnati Reds.
Cabrera is a switch hitter, meaning he can bat from both the left and right sides of the plate. He was chosen for the All-Star team twice. For most of his career, he played in the middle of the infield, usually at shortstop or second base. Later, he also played third base and even some first base. In 2019, he helped the Washington Nationals win the World Series.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Asdrúbal Cabrera grew up in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela. His father was a truck driver and his mother was a homemaker. His family says he started switch-hitting when he was just three years old!
When he was young, Cabrera looked up to Venezuelan shortstop Omar Vizquel. At 15 or 16, he made a special deal with his dad. He would leave school to focus only on baseball. If he didn't get signed by a team within a year, he would go back to school. A scout from the Seattle Mariners noticed his talent when he was 15.
Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Mariners and Indians
Cabrera began his professional journey when the Seattle Mariners signed him in 2002. He was an amateur free agent. This means he was not drafted but could sign with any team.
In 2006, the Mariners traded Cabrera to the Cleveland Indians. He spent some time playing for the Indians' minor league teams. He played for the Buffalo Bisons and the Akron Aeros.
Making His MLB Debut
Cabrera made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on August 8, 2007. He played second base for the Cleveland Indians against the Chicago White Sox. Just three days later, he got his first MLB hit, which was a double. Soon after, he hit his first career home run.
Cabrera quickly became the everyday second baseman for the Indians. He helped the team win many games, especially with his hits late in games. In his first 45 games, he batted .283. He also played in the playoffs, helping the Indians reach the ALCS.
The Unassisted Triple Play
On May 12, 2008, Cabrera did something amazing at Progressive Field. He made the 14th unassisted triple play in MLB history! This is very rare. In the fifth inning, with two runners on base, Cabrera caught a line drive. Then, he stepped on second base to get one runner out. Finally, he tagged the other runner out before he could get back to the base. All three outs were made by Cabrera alone!
After a short time in the minor leagues, Cabrera returned to the Indians. He finished the 2008 season batting .259.
All-Star Seasons with Cleveland
In 2009, Cabrera hit his first career grand slam. This helped the Indians win a game 22–4. He had a great season, batting a career-high .308 with 68 RBI. He also stole 17 bases.
The 2011 season was a standout year for Cabrera. He hit 25 home runs, which was a record for a shortstop on the team. He also had 92 RBI. His great play earned him his first All-Star appearance. He also won the Silver Slugger Award, which goes to the best offensive player at each position.
In 2012, Cabrera signed a new contract with the Indians. He was chosen for the 2012 MLB All-Star Game again as a reserve shortstop. He hit a walk-off home run in June, giving the Indians a dramatic 3–2 win. He finished the season batting .270.
Cabrera played with the Indians until July 2014.
Moving to Other Teams
Washington Nationals (First Time)
On July 31, 2014, the Indians traded Cabrera to the Washington Nationals. He finished the 2014 season with a .241 batting average. He played in the playoffs with the Nationals, but they lost their series.
Tampa Bay Rays
Cabrera signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in December 2014. In 2015, he played in 143 games, batting .265 with 15 home runs.
New York Mets
In December 2015, Cabrera joined the New York Mets on a two-year contract. In 2016, he had a strong season, batting .280 with 23 home runs. He hit a big three-run home run in the 11th inning of a crucial game, helping the Mets win. He played in the Wild Card game with the Mets.
In 2017, Cabrera continued to play well for the Mets, batting .280 with 14 home runs.
Philadelphia Phillies
On July 27, 2018, the Mets traded Cabrera to the Philadelphia Phillies. He played 49 games with the Phillies.
Texas Rangers
Cabrera signed with the Texas Rangers in January 2019. He played 93 games for them before being released in August.
Washington Nationals (Second Time)
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Just a few days after leaving the Rangers, Cabrera signed with the Washington Nationals again on August 6, 2019. He played very well in his second time with the Nationals, batting .323 in 38 games.
The Nationals had an amazing season in 2019 and won the 2019 World Series! Cabrera was a key part of their team throughout the playoffs. He started at second base in Game 7 of the World Series, where the Nationals won 6–2. This was the first championship in the team's history.
Cabrera stayed with the Nationals for the 2020 season, playing 52 games.
Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds
In February 2021, Cabrera signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played 90 games for them, batting .244. Later that year, he was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds. He played 20 games for the Reds before becoming a free agent after the 2021 season.
Personal Life
Asdrúbal Cabrera lives in Miami, Florida. He is married to Lismar, and they have a son named Meyer and a daughter named Ashley. He and his wife 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
Images for kids
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Cabrera playing for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2005
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Cabrera with the Cleveland Indians in 2011
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Playing for the Mets and sliding into second in St. Louis, 2016.
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Cabrera celebrating the 2019 World Series win at the White House
