Daniel Cabrera Stats & Scouting Report

IP	892
ERA	5.105
WHIP	1.574
BB/9	5.247
SO/9	6.8

Full name Daniel Alberto Cabrera
Born 05/28/1981 in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'7" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 05/13/2004

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After ranking third on this list a year ago, Cabrera was maddeningly inconsistent in his first full season. He reported to spring training late because he spent a few extra days with his ill mother back in the Dominican Republic. He still made the low Class A rotation and stayed in it throughout the season, mixing brilliant starts with brutal ones. In August, for example, he followed a stretch when he allowed one earned run in 17 innings by giving up seven runs (six earned) in 11⁄3 innings. Cabrera has as high a ceiling as anyone in the organization because of his power arm, which generates mid-90s fastballs. He has a hard slider that also could be a plus pitch, and a developing changeup. His big problem is his command, which regressed in 2003. His inability to throw strikes consistently makes him run up high pitch counts, which gets him run out of games early. Most of his problems are mechanical, as he's still learning to handle his huge frame. He did pitch well enough to stay on the 40-man roster and move up to high Class A this year.
After two years in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, Cabrera came to the United States in 2001 and didn't show much in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, leading his team in walks with 39. He turned that around in 2002 with a jump in velocity and results. Cabrera has a nearly unlimited ceiling, as his fastball has touched 97 mph and sits in the mid-90s. He has a hard breaking ball and a decent changeup that he simply hasn't needed yet. He is a big kid who has grown into his body. With Cabrera's body and mechanics coming together, scouts have mentioned names like Randy Johnson and J.R. Richard in comparisons. Command is still an issue for Cabrera, though it improved last season. He tries to overpower every hitter and will have to learn how to attack them more subtly and keep his pitch counts lower. He also needs to tighten up his breaking ball, which he calls a curve and the organization calls a slider. In some ways Cabrera profiles as a potential closer, but the Orioles want him to start until he proves he can't. He'll make his first foray into full-season ball at low Class A Delmarva in 2003.

Minor League Top Prospects

When the subject was high ceilings, no player in the league was mentioned more often this year than the 6-foot-7 Cabrera. The raw righthander blew opponents away with a fastball that was clocked as high as 97 mph and sat consistently at 92-94. What makes that even more impressive is the fact that he threw 87-88 mph last season. Cabrera challenged hitters up in the strike zone with little difficulty. He made strides with his slider and changeup, throwing both offerings for strikes. While his change remains inconsistent, Cabrera has great command of his first two pitches. His biggest problem is that he tries to strike out every hitter, which left him exhausted after four or five innings. "He reminds me of Randy Johnson with the way he throws so hard and is right on top of the hitter when he releases the ball," Figueroa said. "You're going to hear a lot about this kid."