Melky Cabrera Facts for Kids

"Melkman" and "The Melkman" redirect here. For the hockey player, see Melker Karlsson.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Cabrera and the second or maternal family name is Astacio.

Quick facts for kids

Melky Cabrera

Cabrera with the Chicago White Sox in 2016

Outfielder

Born: August 11, 1984 (age 41)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Batted: Switch

Threw: Left

debut

July 7, 2005, for the New York Yankees

Last appearance

September 29, 2019, for the Pittsburgh Pirates

MLB statistics

Batting average

.285

Home runs

144

Runs batted in

854

Teams

Career highlights and awards

All-Star (2012)
World Series champion (2009)

Medals

Men's baseball

Representing Dominican Republic
Olympic Games
Bronze	2020 Tokyo	Team

Melky Cabrera Astacio (born August 11, 1984) is a former professional baseball outfielder from the Dominican Republic. Fans and teammates gave him the fun nickname "the Melkman." He played for many teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), including the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Cabrera was known for his skill as a "switch-hitter," meaning he could bat both right-handed and left-handed. He started his career with the Yankees and won a World Series championship with them in 2009. Later in his career, he became an All-Star and even won the All-Star Game MVP award. After a long career, he retired from baseball in 2022.

Early Life and Career Beginnings
Major League Career
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Melky Cabrera was born in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. He loved baseball from a young age. In 2001, when he was just 17, the New York Yankees signed him to a contract.

He first played in the minor leagues, which are teams where young players develop their skills before moving up to the major leagues. He played well for several minor league teams. His good performance earned him a chance to play for the main Yankees team.

Major League Career

New York Yankees (2005–2009)

Cabrera made his MLB debut with the Yankees on July 7, 2005. At first, he had some ups and downs as he got used to playing at the highest level.

By 2006, he was playing more regularly. One of his most famous moments came on June 6, 2006, against the rival Boston Red Sox. He made an amazing catch, leaping over the outfield wall to stop Manny Ramírez from hitting a home run. Fans later voted it the best play of the year.

Cabrera continued to improve and became the Yankees' starting center fielder. In 2009, he had a great season and helped the Yankees win the 2009 World Series. This was a huge achievement for him and the team. One of his biggest accomplishments that year was hitting for the cycle, which is when a player gets a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game.

A Journey Through Different Teams (2010–2012)

After the 2009 season, the Yankees traded Cabrera to the Atlanta Braves. He played with them for one season.

In 2011, he joined the Kansas City Royals and had one of the best seasons of his career. He set new personal records in home runs, stolen bases, and runs scored. He also got over 200 hits, a big milestone for any player.

His success led to another trade, this time to the San Francisco Giants for the 2012 season. He continued to play amazingly. He was so good that he was voted to be a starting player in the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In that game, he hit a home run and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Later that season, Cabrera was suspended for 50 games for breaking league rules by using a banned substance. He admitted his mistake and accepted the suspension, which ended his season. The Giants went on to win the World Series that year, and even though he couldn't play in the final games, he still received a championship ring for his help during the season.

Toronto Blue Jays (2013–2014)

Cabrera with the Toronto Blue Jays on 2013 Opening Day

In 2013, Cabrera signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. His first year with the team was difficult because of injuries.

He came back healthy and strong in 2014. He started the season with a long hitting streak and was one of the best hitters in the league. Unfortunately, his season was cut short in September when he broke his finger while diving back to a base.

Later Career and Retirement

From 2015 to 2019, Cabrera played for several more teams. He played for the Chicago White Sox, returned to the Kansas City Royals, and also played for the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates. He continued to be a solid and dependable player.

After the 2020 season, he played for a team in the Dominican Republic's winter league and represented his country in the 2021 Caribbean Series. He also won a bronze medal with the Dominican Republic's team at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

On January 14, 2022, Melky Cabrera announced he was retiring from professional baseball.

Personal Life

Off the baseball field, Cabrera lives in Tampa, Florida. He is good friends with another famous baseball player, Robinson Canó, who was his teammate in the minor leagues. He has four daughters. His nickname in the Yankees clubhouse was "Leche," which is the Spanish word for "milk."

Cabrera is also known for his charity work in his home country of the Dominican Republic.