In Oswaldo Cabrera’s first week in the majors, the Yankees took full advantage of the many gloves that filled his locker. On any given day, he found himself playing four different positions and expected to hold his own.
That kind of versatility makes a player stand out, like a No. 95 jersey worn by a middle infielder for a first-place team with a $250 million payroll. But the 23-year-old Cabrera has upped the ante by injecting some flair into his uniform with a faux-pearl necklace that, thanks to its mix of white and colored beads, clashes with the Yankees’ corporate approach just enough to make it stand out for viewers watching at home.
“I like it,” said reliever Ron Marinaccio, another Yankees rookie who has worked with Cabrera this year in the minors and majors. “It’s his thing. That’s what I like about Oswaldo. He doesn’t really worry about what anybody else thinks. He does his own thing, and he enjoys it.”
Cabrera, who has immediately found his way into the steady stream of highlight videos on social media thanks to his defensive skills, received the handmade necklace from Milton Ramos about six weeks ago.
Ramos, an infielder who was a third-round pick by the Mets in 2014, broke his hand hitting one of his minor league stops and eventually founded the company PawGripzwhich makes rubber grips to protect players’ hands. Eventually, he decided his company needed to sell something stylish, too.
“Look good, play good, you know?” said Ramos, who competed against Cabrera in the minors. “I was like, ‘Hey man, let me send you a necklace,’ because he’s a good friend of mine. He has never taken it off since.”
“Everybody’s crazy about it,” Cabrera said. “Everybody’s asking me. I’m like, ‘Hey, this is my guy. Ask him!'”
Ramos said his other big clients include Gary Sánchez, Nick Gordon, Triston McKenzie and Chris Archer. Cabrera is wearing Ramos’ “Pollyanna Necklace” — so named because it is intended for cheerful and optimistic people — which sells for $29.99.
However, Cabrera’s is unique. It features two lettered beads that spell “OZ,” a fitting nickname for a player whose defensive wizardry has made him an instant fan favorite.
Stand out at every stop
When Cabrera trotted to second base against the Mets on Monday, it was only his sixth game in the majors. Cabrera had previously started at shortstop, third base and right fielder, becoming the first Yankees player to start at four different positions in his first six appearances.
Outfielder Estevan Florial, who was promoted last week along with Cabrera, said, “It doesn’t matter where he plays. He’s always ready.”
Cabrera has managed to leave his mark in every place.
He reminded people of Derek Jeter with a jump throw into the hole at short. He crashed into the Yankee Stadium net and the furled tarp while chasing a pop-up on third. He jumped and stole what could have been a home run into the outfield. He showed a slick glove flip on an attempted double play. And Tuesday against the Mets threw a runner home from the right.
Of course, no rookie is perfect. Monday 4-2 victory over the Mets some miscommunication about a pop-up. Cabrera ventured deep into the outfield on a pop-up from Pete Alonso as Marwin Gonzalez charged in from right field. The fielders collided and the ball fell to the ground. Making matters worse, the next batter, designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach, made the Yankees pay for the mistake — credited to Cabrera — with a two-run home run.
Still, the Yankees like Cabrera’s tenacity and flexibility, and they can tolerate a few rookie mistakes.
“He’s fearless. You’ve seen him make some really good plays all over the diamond,” Manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s like ice water. He feels like he belongs.”
Ask Cabrera to pick a favorite position, and he can’t. “I love all of them,” he said, noting that each spot is different. The outfield, however, is his new favorite. He had logged just 43 professional innings there through Tuesday, all this year.
Cabrera asked to play outfield in the minors last season, but didn’t get the chance. This year he said nothing, but the organization agreed to the offer. And it was Cabrera’s versatility that helped propel him to the majors.
“I want to do different things, like learn,” Cabrera said. “Whenever they need me there, I can play there. It’s more opportunity to play, so for that reason I thought, ‘I want to do this too.’
To give a spark
As valuable as Cabrera’s adaptability is, the Yankees also called him and Florial last week because they were looking for a spark.
The team was .500 in July and 3-11 in August before Cabrera’s debut. With veterans like Aaron Hicks, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson struggling, the Yankees were willing to take a shot on some younger players.
“He’s a guy we’re really excited about,” Boone said when Cabrera, the Yankees’ No. 14 prospect, according to MLB.com, joined the team. “We’ve always liked his character and what he brings to the table as a switch hitter. He’s got an impact on the ball and he’s a really good infielder no matter where you put him.”
While Cabrera’s bat hasn’t kept up with his glove thus far — he was hitting .136 through Monday with a double, though he drew a bases-loaded walk on Tuesday — he has brought some energy and joy to the Bronx at a time when such Things were in short supply (the Yankees won back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday for the first time since late July).
“He’s always been such a free, loose player,” Marinaccio said. “It seems like no moment is too big for him, and it’s pretty impressive to see him jump in like that.”
So far, that approach has worked well for the Yankees and Cabrera. But they are not the only ones benefiting from Cabrera’s meteoric rise.
“I already have some people hitting me,” Ramos said, referring to a stream of chain orders inspired by Cabrera. “It’s going very well.”
