Oswaldo Cabrera Set to Be Yankees’ X-Factor This Season? Infielder Continues to Show Maturity Amidst Hot Start

The emergence of young players has been the most exciting story of the New York Yankees’ start. In a situation that is reminding fans of the “Baby Bomber” era, multiple young stars are being born this season. However, the brightest among them are Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera. The latter in particular has become a huge part of the Bronx Bombers’ hitting lineup.

Last season, these two young guns struggled a lot. Cabrera’s mere .211 average with a .574 OPS in 2023 raised questions over his long-term suitability in the Yankees. However, those doubtful eyes have proven to be a huge motivational force for the young man. Cabrera in 2024 is a transformed man and that is a great development for the New York Yankees.

Oswaldo Cabrera shines as 2024 becomes a major breakout for the young star

The Yankees’ doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians once again showcased the growing confidence of Cabrera. The 25-year-old was playing his first game in third base since Sunday and decided to make the most out of this opportunity. Cabrera entered with the Yankees barely leading the game by one run and then hit a big two-run homer that sealed the deal for the Pinstripes.

What was surprising is that Cabrera hadn’t originally planned to swing for the fences. He had initially tried to get Alex Verdugo to third base by bunting the ball. However, the ball ended up going towards the fout territory. That opened up the opportunity for Cabrera to hit a massive homer and extend his good form since the start of the season.

Cabrera’s impact on the Yankees’ current domination cannot be understated. He has played 11 games and is currently hitting .333 with a .973 OPS. With 11 RBI, Cabrera currently sits behind only Juan Soto (15) in this criteria. According to NJ Media, Aaron Boone declared that he has “a lot” of confidence in Cabrera. “Cabby is always ready and prepared,” Boone said. He isn’t the only one, the entire Yankees clubhouse only has nice things to say about their ever-smiling hitter.

New York Yankees’ future looks bright with the rising youth brigade

“He’s a big part of this team in this offense right now. We love to have him here,” Aaron Judge said about Cabrera. “The guy’s always been mature, had a great head on his shoulders. He’s always played the game right and been aggressive, done his thing.”  Judge was also impressed by the timely homer by Cabrera that sealed their win. 

“Talk about somebody that comes to the field every day and gives everything he has – The definition is Oswaldo Cabrera,” said Jose Trevino. Nearly everyone noted how they’ve witnessed the growing confidence of this young player. Cabrera has always been a beloved part of the Yankees clubhouse but his on-field excellence has also made him a highly respected part of their family. 

But the challenge has just begun. Now that his sample size is growing Cabrera will have to find different ways to keep pitchers guessing. However, with his level of talent, that wouldn’t be the most difficult thing to do for Cabrera.