Miguel Cabrera

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Miami Marlins #1 prospect in 2003
  Signed for a Venezuelan-record $1.9 million bonus, Cabrera grew up with a diamond just beyond his backyard, and his instincts show as much. He was called up from the winter parallel league in his homeland at age 18 and has been a key member of the Aragua Tigers the past two winters. He's the youngest player to appear in the Futures Game in the four years of the event, achieving the distinction in 2001 in Seattle and returning last year in Milwaukee. Cabrera benefited from playing with roommate Adrian Gonzalez at low Class A Kane County in 2001. Gonzalez helped him achieve a comfort level with a foreign language and strange land. Some wondered how Cabrera would fare when Gonzalez jumped ahead to Double-A last year, but Cabrera stood out at high Class A Jupiter. Signed as a shortstop, Cabrera moved to third base last spring and fared well. He's a below-average runner but is quick on his feet and has drawn comparisons to countryman Andres Galarraga in that regard. He has soft hands and a plus arm that's accurate and ranks as the best among the system's infielders. Cabrera's line-drive swing has produced more doubles than homers so far. While some of his teammates were frustrated by hitting in the Florida State League, Cabrera took his doubles off the wall and stayed positive. He projects to hit for both average and power, with annual totals of 35-40 homers not out of the question down the road. He loves to play, doesn't get too emotional and constantly works to get better. While he has a good grasp of the strike zone, Cabrera should accept more walks and lay off breaking balls out of the zone. He isn't much of a threat on the bases, though he's an instinctive baserunner. He was plagued by a lower-back problem in 2001 but had no relapses last season. Having outgrown shortstop, Cabrera could get too big for third base if he continues to add bulk and wind up at first base, which would give the organization a perplexing logjam. With Mike Lowell two seasons from free agency, Cabrera is poised to take over at third base by 2005, if not sooner. He'll start the year at Florida's new Double-A Carolina affiliate.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #2 prospect in 2002
  Signed for a Venezuelan-record $1.9 million, Cabrera grew up with a diamond just beyond his back yard, and his instincts show as much. Last July in Seattle, he became the youngest player in the short history of the Futures Game. Cabrera plays with an all-around smoothness that makes him stand out, even on a Class A Kane County club that also included Adrian Gonzalez. Cabrera does everything with apparent ease, including driving the ball with authority into both gaps and producing runs in RBI situations. He has a good idea of the strike zone for such a young player. He has plus range and arm strength. Cabrera shed baby fat and became much lighter on his feet with a welldefined physique. Despite the increased quickness, Cabrera's speed is below-average due to his thick legs. He hasn't shown much home run power, but that should come. He missed time in 2001 with a lower back problem, the only thing that could slow what figures to be a rapid rise. Cabrera could make the jump to Double-A to start 2002, and he'll continue to play shortstop primarily. An eventual move to third base no longer is considered essential.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #3 prospect in 2001
  Cabrera signed for a Venezuelan-record $1.9 million. A false rumor that he contracted elephantiasis was spread in Venezuela by a jilted scout, though the truth is slowly making its way through the country. Making his pro debut at 17, Cabrera stood out as the best position prospect on a stacked Rookie-level Gulf Coast League club. For his age, Cabrera has an advanced approach at the plate. He has a great eye and a compact swing to go with plus power. He could contend for batting crowns and home run titles. In the field he has a solid, accurate arm and a quick release. His hands are soft and more than sufficient to play shortstop. Cabrera's speed is below-average, he has a stocky build and his legs tend to be a bit heavy. Those attributes, plus his long frame, have prompted speculation about a move to third base. He still had baby fat after signing but has worked hard to turn it into muscle. After getting a taste of short-season Utica late in the 2000 season, Cabrera could start out as high as the Midwest League. If all goes well he should challenge for a big league job by 2003.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #11 prospect in 2000

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #1 prospect in 2003
  As deep as the SL was, no league manager or scout considered anyone else for the top prospect spot. In fact, they had trouble restraining themselves from lavishing Cabrera with praise. The lone complaint was the Cabrera knew he was too good for the league and it showed. "His plate approach was outstanding for a 20-year-old," Tennessee manager Mark DeJohn said. "It's the approach to hitting you try to teach, but it comes natural to him. He uses the opposite field to drive in runs. It's the approach Albert Pujols uses. I'm not sure he has that kind of power, but he has that approach and he's very disciplined for a young hitter." Cabrera pummeled lefthanders (.455 with five homers in 55 at-bats), which he continued to do in the big leagues. Managers rated him the league's strongest infield arm and best defensive third baseman, though he made 15 errors in 64 games. He initially played left field in Florida after spending just three games there in Double-A, but moved back to third base after Mike Lowell's season-ending injury and made only one error in his first 20 starts there.
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  Ranked Florida State League #5 prospect in 2002
  Cabrera would be just a year out of high school if he were American. After signing as a 16-year-old, he already has 2 1/2 years of pro experience under his belt. He's only beginning to scratch the surface of his ability. "When he hits it, it has that sound," Trembley said of the unique "thwack" Cabrera's bat makes upon contact. "Some scouts I talked to compared him to a young Tony Perez." Cabrera has a good understanding of the strike zone, though there's still room for improvement. He uses quick, strong wrists to drive the ball to all parts of the park. He led the league in doubles, and scouts project him to hit for above-average power as he continues to bulk up. In his first season at third base, the former shortstop showed good actions and mobility with an above-average arm. He was able to make tough plays on the run.
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  Ranked Midwest League #9 prospect in 2001
  The youngest player at the midsummer Futures Game, Cabrera is still a work in progress. He gave a hint at what's yet to come by his drastic improvement in his first full pro season. He hit .227 with no homers and made 14 errors in April, then batted .280 with seven homers and 18 errors the rest of the way. "He's the top prospect among position players," Massarelli said. "He plays so smooth and easy. His power will develop when his body fills out, and he puts the ball in play to all fields. He'll be something special in five years." Cabrera had the strongest infield arm in the league, and he also showed good hands and fine range at shortstop. He's expected to add considerable strength and power, which may necessitate a move to third base.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #20 prospect in 2000
  Signed a year ago to a Venezuelan-record $1.8 million bonus at age 16, Cabrera debuted in the United States this summer. He made rapid strides as he adjusted to a wood bat. "He hit most balls to right-center at the start," GCL Braves manager Rick Albert said, "but he got the bat head out pretty consistently toward the end." Cabrera may have to hit to make it big, because most managers believe that at 6-foot-3 he'll soon outgrow shortstop. He has excellent hands for the position and made all the routine plays, but limited range may push him to third base.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #12 prospect in 2003
• Ranked Baseball America's #38 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #91 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Signed a year ago to a Venezuelan-record $1.8 million bonus at age 16, Cabrera debuted in the United States this summer. He made rapid strides as he adjusted to a wood bat. "He hit most balls to right-center at the start," GCL Braves manager Rick Albert said, "but he got the bat head out pretty consistently toward the end." Cabrera may have to hit to make it big, because most managers believe that at 6-foot-3 he'll soon outgrow shortstop. He has excellent hands for the position and made all the routine plays, but limited range may push him to third base.