CINCINNATI – Oswaldo Cabrera feared his career might be over after suffering a gruesome ankle injury while playing for the Yankees in 2025. But the 27-year-old utility man worked his way back to the Major Leagues, and now he has a new team, and a fresh opportunity with the Reds.
“A lot of thoughts come into your mind when something like that happens,” Cabrera said. “If I’m going to be the same guy, or even better. But I made sure to work out every single day, to work out mentally, to work out physically, and to get better.”
During the Yankees’ 11-5 win over Seattle on May 12, 2025, Cabrera scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Judge. But Cabrera slid awkwardly and laid writhing in pain near home plate. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital and would later undergo season-ending surgery to repair a fractured ankle and severe ligament damage.
Cabrera played in only three games this season for the Yankees, going hitless in nine at-bats. In 122 games this year in Triple-A, he batted .288 with a .789 OPS, 19 home runs and 69 RBIs.
“Physically, to be honest, at the beginning of the season, I was in a little bit of pain,” Cabrera said. “But I'm glad that I was playing every single day and getting better [and] getting the opportunity to get better down in Triple-A and with the Yankees. So right now, I feel like I'm 100 percent for sure.”
After being designated for assignment by the Yankees, Cabrera was claimed off waivers by the Reds on Friday.
He arrived Saturday at Great American Ball Park, where he was welcomed by his new teammates and manager Terry Francona, who received plenty of positive reports about the Reds’ latest acquisition.
“I had multiple messages from people that were like, not that he’s a good guy, that he’s the best guy,” Francona said. “Who knows what happens? But a switch-hitter that can play multiple positions. Great kid. There doesn’t seem to be any harm in trying.”
In a related roster move, outfielder TJ Friedl was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Friedl is batting .172 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 91 games. It’s the second time he’s been optioned.
“That was the hard part,” Francona said. “Me and [president of baseball operations] Nick [Krall] talked to him last night, and we spent some time with him. We’re talking about Cabrera being a wonderful kid. I would put TJ in that category. As hard as the year has been for him, he never once was not a fantastic teammate.”
For his career, Cabrera has batted .232 with 20 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases over 867 big-league at-bats. His value to the Reds is in the fact that he can play second, third, and all outfield positions.
“My favorite position is the position that the manager wants me to play that day,” Cabrera said, joking that he’d even take a stab at catching if needed. “I want to be in the lineup.”
Cabrera isn’t a complete stranger in the Reds clubhouse. He’s a former Yankees teammate of catcher Jose Trevino and met Eugenio Suárez in Miami when he was a teenager.
“Obviously, I got to talk about my experience with Suárez,” Cabrera said. “My first year in pro ball when I was 16 years old, we were working out down in Miami together. It was so much fun. He made me feel like part of his family. We had some really beautiful moments down there. And [Trevino], man, Trevi is my favorite teammate from the Yankees. You know, one of those guys that you love.”
The memory of that night in Seattle, lying in pain near home plate, wondering what might come next, is still fresh in the Venezuelan’s mind. But Cabrera was all smiles on Saturday, while looking and sounding like someone who has gotten a new lease on life.
“It was not easy coming back,” Cabrera said. “You know, it was a brutal injury, bones broken, a lot of ligaments out of place. The tendons out of place. But man, that's why right now I'm so happy I’m not feeling that pain anymore.”