Yordy Cabrera

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Athletics #15 prospect in 2012
  Cabrera spent his early years in the Dominican Republic, but he moved to the U.S. at age 14 to join his father Basilio, who played seven seasons in the Tigers organization and manages Detroit's Rookie-level Gulf Coast League squad. He signed with the A's for $1.25 million as the 60th overall pick in 2010, and he was the oldest high school player in his draft class at nearly 20. Cabrera battled inconsistency throughout his first full pro season. He tinkered with how far to spread out his feet in his stance and how much of a leg kick to use, and he tended to come off balance in his swing. He also pressed and tried to do too much, leading him to chase bad pitches. He found a better comfort level in instructional league after the season. His home run totals from last season don't show it, but he does have above-average power potential. Scouts outside the organization look at his big frame and think Cabrera will have to move to third base, but Oakland remains committed to developing him as a shortstop. He was too inconsistent in 2011, making great plays and then booting routine ones, and his 38 errors were the second-most among Midwest League shortstops. He has plenty of arm strength and threw in the low to mid-90s as a pitcher in high school, so third base might be his best fit. Cabrera will try to keep his momentum from instructional league going as he moves up to high Class A in 2012.
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  Ranked Athletics #8 prospect in 2011
  The son of Tigers minor league manager Basilio Cabrera, Yordy moved to United States from the Dominican Republic when he was 14. The oldest high school player drafted in the 2010 draft class at nearly 20, he signed at the deadline for $1.25 million as the 60th overall pick. Though he was a well regarded pitching prospect who could fire mid-90s fastballs, he and the A's view him as an everyday player. Cabrera has a physical frame and produces excellent raw power. He has some lift in his swing, so he'll have to adjust to get down to the ball and hit it more on a line if he's going to succeed against good pitching. He's an average runner. He'll get a chance to start his career at shortstop, and though he has good hands and is athletic for his size, he may be too big to stay there. Wherever he plays on the diamond, he'll have plenty of arm strength. Oakland loves his attitude and work ethic. If Cabrera's bat comes along, he'll have no trouble profiling as a third baseman if he can't stick at shortstop. His bat could be put to the test right away, as he's the most likely of the A's premium 2010 high school picks to start his first full pro season at their new low Class A Burlington affiliate.