Mauricio Cabrera

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #27 prospect in 2016
  Cabrera's development has been slowed by inconsistency, which has been caused in part by forearm discomfort in 2014 that kept him out of action for two months. Despite advancing to Double-A Mississippi toward the end of 2015, he walked a career-worst 6.5 batters per nine innings. Cabrera's strength is an overpowering fastball that sat at 100 mph and topped out at 104 during instructional league. His slider has decent movement when he throws it with conviction, and his changeup needs considerable work. Cabrera returned to the Arizona Fall League for the second straight season in 2015 in hopes of honing his control but he walked seven in 12 innings. How well he progresses in that area will determine how much of a contributor he will be as a reliever with Atlanta. A return to Mississippi appears likely in 2016.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #14 prospect in 2015
  Cabrera signed for $400,000 in 2010, led the Rookie-level Appalachian League with an opponent average of .213 in 2012, then ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2013. He often struggled at high Class A Lynchburg in 2014 when he missed two months with forearm discomfort before returning in July and putting together a productive stint in instructional league. Cabrera continued to have difficulty with his control, walking 5.9 batters per nine innings in 19 appearances. He has a live arm that generates a mid-90s fastball and has reached triple digits. His slurvy curveball shows promise but lacks consistency, and his changeup has been little more than a show-me offering. Cabrera moved to the bullpen upon his midseason return. He has a chance to dominate if he improves his strike-throwing ability. A return to high Class A seems likely for 2015.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #5 prospect in 2014
  The younger brother of Cubs righthander Alberto Cabrera, Mauricio signed with Atlanta for $400,000 in 2010. He made his U.S. debut two years later in the Rookie-level Appalachian League and led the circuit with a .213 opponent average. A jump to low Class A Rome followed in 2013, and he ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the South Atlantic League. Cabrera has a live arm that generates pure heat. His fastball sits at 93-97 mph, touches 100, and has good movement given its speed. He throws it with an easy delivery but an unusual path in which he swings his arm wide before throwing across his body. Control is the biggest hurdle Cabrera faces. He worked around a lot of traffic at Rome, walking 4.9 batters per nine innings while giving up 118 hits in 131 innings. He has a decent changeup and is working on a curveball that flashed plus potential during the second half of last season. He pitched under control more consistently after getting rattled on the mound during the first three months of the season. Some scouts project Cabrera as a reliever, but the Braves believe his secondary offerings hold promise and his delivery can handle the workload. He has the fastball to be a frontline starter in the major leagues. Spring training will determine whether he returns to Rome or joins high Class A Lynchburg.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #6 prospect in 2013
  After a lull, the Braves have pursued Latin American talent more aggressively in the last few years. Their latest top prospect from the region is Cabrera, who signed for $400,000 in 2010. He bypassed the Gulf Coast League and went to the system's more advanced Rookie affiliate in Danville for his U.S. debut in 2012, leading the Appalachian League in opponent average (.213). His older brother Alberto, also a righthanded pitcher, reached the majors with the Cubs last season. Cabrera has above-average arm strength and a strong frame for a 19-year-old. His 94-96 mph fastball has impressive cutting action and shows good sink when he stays on top of the pitch. He has the makings of a second plus offering in a low-80s slider that breaks down and in on lefthanders. He also has advanced feel for a changeup that could give him a third plus pitch. Cabrera is still learning to command all of his pitches, his slider in particular. He has a wrist wrap that makes that task more difficult. He has a solid mound presence and isn't afraid to challenge hitters. How well Cabrera can refine his secondary pitches and command will determine if he winds up in the rotation or bullpen. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter and will pitch alongside Lucas Sims in the Rome rotation in 2013.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked South Atlantic League #10 prospect in 2013
  Some scouts liked Cabrera more than Sims, pointing to his better changeup and even-better fastball velocity. He?s one of the hardest-throwing starters in the minors, sitting 93-97 mph and touching 100. Unlike many pitchers with high-90s heat, Cabrera?s fastball at times shows life. He has a fairly easy delivery for such outstanding velocity, though his control needs lots of work. His changeup is more advanced than Sims?, but he doesn?t yet have an out-pitch. Cabrera?s power breaking ball is still a ways away from fruition. Some see Cabrera as a future closer, but considering how easy he does it, there?s no reason to remove him from the rotation yet.
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  Ranked National League #5 prospect in 2012
  Cabrera signed with the Braves for $400,000 in July 2010, then spent a season in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League prior to joining Danville this year. He bypassed the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League just like Randall Delgado did in 2008. Cabrera's older brother Alberto made his big league debut with the Cubs in August. Cabrera's radar-gun readings alone--he sits at 94 mph and peaks at 96 with his fastball--would cause evaluators to take note. He emerged as the league's top righty prospect after factoring in his sturdy frame, power arsenal and performance. Cabrera served as the ace of a playoff team and led the Appy League with a .213 opponent average. Cabrera's fastball sinks when he stays on top of it, and he generates natural cutting action at other times. He already shows an advanced feel for an above-average changeup, while his low-80s slider occasionally flashes plus and breaks down and in to lefties. A wrist wrap compromises his control of his breaking ball, and his development of the pitch could mean the difference between starting and relieving down the line.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: After a lull, the Braves have pursued Latin American talent more aggressively in the last few years. Their latest top prospect from the region is Cabrera, who signed for $400,000 in 2010. He bypassed the Gulf Coast League and went to the system's more advance Rookie affiliate in Danville for his U.S. debut in 2012, leading the Appalachian League in opponent average (.213). His older brother Alberto reached the majors with the Cubs last season. Scouting Report: Cabrera has above-average arm strength and a strong frame for a 19-year-old. His 94-96 mph fastball has impressive cutting action and shows good sink when he stays on top of the pitch. He has the makings of a second plus offering in a low-80s slider that breaks down and in on lefthanders. He also has advanced feel for a changeup that could give him a third plus pitch. Cabrera is still learning to command all of his pitches, his slider in particular. He has a wrist wrap that makes that task more difficult. He has a solid mound presence and isn't afraid to challenge hitters. The Future: How well Cabrera can refine his secondary pitches and command will determine if he winds up in the rotation or bullpen. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter and will pitch alongside Lucas Sims in the Rome rotation in 2013.