Starlyn Caba

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #3 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
  
  Track Record: Caba earned the biggest bonus in the Phillies’ 2023 international signing class and impressed in his pro debut, which was limited to just 38 games because of a left elbow injury that required season-ending surgery. He moved to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2024 and showed no signs of rust. His year was impressive enough to nab the No. 1 spot on the FCL top 20 prospects list and earn a 26-game run at Low-A Clearwater from July 24 until the end of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Caba is the best infield defender in the Phillies’ system and among the very best in the entire sport. Conservative graders call Caba’s glovework double-plus, while many others are comfortable calling it a true 80-grade tool that will one day make him the centerpiece of Philadelphia’s infield. His hands and feet are exemplary. He has range to both sides and the quick-twitch athleticism to react in plenty of time to snare hard line drives and grounders hit his way. At the plate, Caba was incredibly selective and rarely strayed from the strike zone during his time in FCL, where his 51 walks led the league and far outpaced his 34 strikeouts. He has a simple swing from both sides of the plate geared to shoot line drives to the gaps and let his plus speed take over. His power is likely to be fringy at the highest level, but bat-to-ball skills and gold-standard defense will carry the bulk of his value.
  
  The Future: Caba will head back to Low-A Clearwater in 2025, where he’ll test his mettle against better pitching and a tighter strike zone governed by the Florida State League’s automated ball-strike system. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be an all-star who hits at the top of a lineup and fills a trophy case with Gold Gloves.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 80 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #5 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The biggest bonus the Phillies handed out in the international class that opened on Jan. 15, 2023 went to Caba, a Dominican shortstop who inked his deal as a 17-year-old. Caba got $3 million from Philadelphia, then began his career a few months later in the Dominican Summer League. He was outstanding for 38 games before an injury to his left elbow suffered on a slide required a season-ending surgical cleanup.
  
  Scouting Report: As an amateur, Caba earned a reputation as an excellent defensive shortstop with outstanding bat-to-ball skills. Both of those traits showed up in his pro debut. At the plate, he hit the ball with slightly below-average exit velocities when compared to his peers, but his contact skills were the real story. Caba’s overall and zone-miss rates over the course of 164 plate appearances were 9.5% and 4.2%--exemplary for any level, but especially so for someone his age. Caba is not a particularly physical player and doesn’t project to add much more muscle to his frame, so his power will likely come from doubles and line drives from gap to gap. His plus speed could help him leg out a few triples, too. Defensively, Caba shows elite instincts and actions at shortstop as one of the quickest infield defenders in the Phillies’ system. He has strong footwork to go with plus arm strength, which should help keep him at shortstop for the long run. Caba is also praised for his outstanding makeup, which internal evaluators say helps him act like another coach on the field.
  
  The Future: After recovering from elbow surgery, Caba should be ready in plenty of time for spring training. He’ll make his U.S. debut in 2024 and has the ceiling of a standout defensive shortstop who hits toward the top of an order.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #14 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: In their previous signing class, the Phillies' top signing was William Bergolla, a slick-fielding shortstop with a slender 5-foot-10 frame. Their top player for January 2023 is Caba, another 5-foot-10 shortstop with smooth defensive actions from the Dominican Republic.
  
  Scouting Report: He's an athletic defender and a plus runner with quick feet, soft hands and a solid-average arm that should tick up to become another plus tool. For a player with a smaller frame, Caba has some sneaky pop and strength in his swing from both sides of the plate, with a chance to be a 15-20 home run hitter.
  
  The Future: He should make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 60. Field: 60. Arm: 55.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #54 prospect in 2024

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: In their previous signing class, the Phillies' top signing was William Bergolla, a slick-fielding shortstop with a slender 5-foot-10 frame. Their top player for January 2023 is Caba, another 5-foot-10 shortstop with smooth defensive actions from the Dominican Republic.
  
  Scouting Report: He's an athletic defender and a plus runner with quick feet, soft hands and a solid-average arm that should tick up to become another plus tool. For a player with a smaller frame, Caba has some sneaky pop and strength in his swing from both sides of the plate, with a chance to be a 15-20 home run hitter.
  
  The Future: He should make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 60. Field: 60. Arm: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: In their previous signing class, the Phillies' top signing was William Bergolla, a slick-fielding shortstop with a slender 5-foot-10 frame. Their top player for January 2023 is Caba, another 5-foot-10 shortstop with smooth defensive actions from the Dominican Republic.
  
  Scouting Report: He's an athletic defender and a plus runner with quick feet, soft hands and a solid-average arm that should tick up to become another plus tool. For a player with a smaller frame, Caba has some sneaky pop and strength in his swing from both sides of the plate, with a chance to be a 15-20 home run hitter.
  
  The Future: He should make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 60. Field: 60. Arm: 55.