Phillies’ Starlyn Caba Draws Rave Reviews After Brief Pro Debut
Starlyn Caba played in just 38 Dominican Summer League games last season, but he quickly made a strong impression.
The slick-fielding, switch-hitting shortstop hit .301/.423/.346 with just 16 strikeouts and 28 walks before ending his season early because he needed elbow surgery. The 18-year-old Dominican rehabbed his elbow at the Phillies’ facility in Clearwater, Fla., and will be ready for spring training.
Caba signed for $3 million in 2023 and at the time was ranked as one of the top talents in the international signing class. Phillies senior adviser to international scouting Sal Agostinelli said that Caba is the best defensive prospect he’s ever seen.
“He is as good as it gets, in my opinion,” Agostinelli said to The Philadelphia Inquirer last year. “I think the only thing that would stop him from playing in the big leagues, defensively, right now, is that he’d make some errors—just because he’d be in awe. Like the emotion of it.
“But he’s going to be there. I’ve been doing this for 27 years, and I’ve never seen a shortstop move around like he did. I really haven’t.”
Phillies farm director Preston Mattingly feels similarly. He said that Caba’s range, arm and footwor are all elite. On top of that, he has good instincts, especially for a player of his age.
“What jumps out the most is the defense, the athleticism, the contact ability on both sides of the plate,” Mattingly said. “He’s a premium shortstop defender.”
Agostinelli compared Caba’s body type to that of Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. It’s unclear whether or not Caba will develop Lindor’s power, but he has been consistently adding muscle, so the Phillies are optimistic that the power will come with time.
Caba will likely spend most or all of the 2024 season in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.
