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*[[Hit for the cycle]] on August 2, 2009
*[[Hit for the cycle]] on August 2, 2009
*[[2009 Major League Baseball season|2009 Major League Baseball]] Clutch Performer of the Month of May
*[[2009 Major League Baseball season|2009 Major League Baseball]] Clutch Performer of the Month of May
*[[World Series]] champion ([[2009 World Series|2009]])
*[[World Series]] champion ([[2009 World Series|2009]]), ([[2012 World Series|2012]])
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'''Melky Astacio Cabrera''' (born August 11, 1984) is a [[Dominican Republic|Dominican]] professional [[baseball]] player with the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/left-fielder-melky-cabrera-officially-signs-toronto-blue-023310220--mlb.html|title=Left-fielder Melky Cabrera officially signs with Toronto Blue Jays|work=Yahoo Sports|date=November 19, 2012|accessdate=November 19, 2012}}</ref> The [[outfielder]] previously played for the [[New York Yankees]], [[Atlanta Braves]], [[Kansas City Royals]] and [[San Francisco Giants]] of [[Major League Baseball]].
'''Melky Astacio Cabrera''' (born August 11, 1984) is a [[Dominican Republic|Dominican]] professional [[baseball]] player with the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/left-fielder-melky-cabrera-officially-signs-toronto-blue-023310220--mlb.html|title=Left-fielder Melky Cabrera officially signs with Toronto Blue Jays|work=Yahoo Sports|date=November 19, 2012|accessdate=November 19, 2012}}</ref> The [[outfielder]] previously played for the [[New York Yankees]], [[Atlanta Braves]], [[Kansas City Royals]] and [[San Francisco Giants]] of [[Major League Baseball]].

Revision as of 15:32, 22 November 2012

Not to be confused with Miguel Cabrera.
Melky Cabrera
Cabrera with the Royals on May 24, 2011
Toronto Blue Jays
Outfielder
Born: (1984-08-11) August 11, 1984 (age 39)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Switch
Throws: Left
debut
July 7, 2005, for the New York Yankees
Career statistics
(through 2012 season)
Batting average.284
Hits995
Home runs69
Runs batted in417
Stolen bases84
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Melky Astacio Cabrera (born August 11, 1984) is a Dominican professional baseball player with the Toronto Blue Jays.[1] The outfielder previously played for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.

Cabrera signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He made his MLB debut for the Yankees in 2005. After playing as a fourth outfielder, the Yankees included him in a trade to the Braves after the 2009 season. Struggling with the Braves in 2010, he was released, and signed by the Royals in 2011. Recommitting himself to the game, Cabrera had a strong year with the Royals, and was traded to the Giants for the 2012 season. In 2012, Cabrera made his first All-Star Game appearance, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. One month later, Cabrera received a 50 game suspension after testing positive for high levels of testosterone.

Baseball career

New York Yankees (2002–2009)

Minors

Cabrera was signed by the New York Yankees on November 14, 2001, at age 17, receiving a $175,000 signing bonus.[2] He played for the Staten Island Yankees in the Class A Short-Season New York–Penn League in 2003, batting .283 with 31 runs batted in (RBI) in 67 games. In 2004, he was promoted to the Battle Creek Yankees of the Class A Midwest League, hitting .333 with 16 RBIs in 42 games.[2] He was promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, where he hit .288 with 51 RBIs in 85 games to finish the season.

2005 - Major League debut

In 2005, Cabrera started off with the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League, hitting .2675 with 60 RBIs in 106 games. At the end of June, he was promoted to the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A International League, where he hit .324 with three homers and 11 RBIs in nine games.[3][4] On July 7, Cabrera made his major league debut in center field at Yankee Stadium against the Cleveland Indians.[5] He collected his first major league hit, a single, in his third at bat that day.[6] The next day, he went 2-for-3 against Cleveland Indians pitcher Cliff Lee, scoring his first major league run. Cabrera would go 0-for-his next 13 and made costly miscues,[7] including one on July 15 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, misplaying a Trot Nixon fly ball that resulted in an inside-the-park home run during a 17–1 defeat. He was sent down to Columbus the next day for 17 games, and then demoted back to Trenton to finish out the season.[8]

2006

Cabrera bunting in 2007.

Cabrera saw a lot of time in spring training of 2006 with starting outfielders Johnny Damon and Bernie Williams playing in the World Baseball Classic.[citation needed] He impressed the Yankees by hitting .349 in 16 games; however, he was ultimately sent to Columbus at the start of the season.[citation needed]

He had a strong start to the season, hitting .385 with 4 home runs and 24 RBIs in just 31 games before being called up on May 9 after left fielder Hideki Matsui broke his wrist and landed on the disabled list until September 12. Cabrera stepped in at left field and hitting .318 in May with his first 10 career RBIs and two career stolen bases. On May 30, batting leadoff for just the second time in his career, he recorded his first career 4-hit game, going 4-for-6.[9] In June, he fell into a slump, although he hit his first major league home run on June 15.[10] On June 6, in the 8th inning of a 2–1 game against the Red Sox, Cabrera made an outstanding catch in left-center, leaping over the wall to steal a home run from Boston's Manny Ramírez.[11] This play earned Cabrera a "This Year In Baseball" Award (voted on by the fans) for the most outstanding play of the 2006 season.[12]

In July, Cabrera heated up again, hitting .313 with 14 RBIs. He had his first career five-RBI game on July 5, with his first career grand slam.[13] On July 18, Cabrera hit his first career walk-off home run.[14] Then 22-year old Cabrera became the second youngest Yankee ever to hit a walk-off home run, the youngest being 21-year old Mickey Mantle in 1953.[15] He finished the 2006 season tied for second in the league with 12 outfield assists.[16]

2007

Cabrera was given the role of fourth outfielder at the beginning of the 2007 season. He struggled, batting .200 in April and .254 in May in limited playing time. He was batting .223 on the season when Jason Giambi went on the disabled list on June 1, allowing Cabrera more playing time. Damon moved to Giambi's role of designated hitter and Cabrera took Damon's spot in center field. After this, Cabrera hit .320 with 3 of his 5 home runs and 21 of his 36 RBIs. He also had a 13-game hitting streak going from July 1–17. While Bobby Abreu was struggling in July, Cabrera batted second so that Derek Jeter could move to third in the lineup. He cemented himself as the Yankees' starting center fielder, causing Giambi to compete for at bats at DH since he returned from the DL. He had a career-high hitting streak of 19 games. However, he continued to get on base with a walk. Prior to the July 31 trade deadline, the Texas Rangers' offered Yankees GM Brian Cashman their closer, Éric Gagné, in exchange for Cabrera. Cashman refused this proposal.[17] Cabrera tied for third in outfield assists (16).[16]

2008

Cabrera with the Yankees in 2009.

Cabrera was involved in a bench-clearing brawl against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 2008 spring training pre-season game. MLB claimed to have seen video that showed Cabrera punching Rays third baseman Evan Longoria during the brawl. Cabrera was suspended two games, along with teammate Shelley Duncan, and third base coach Bobby Meacham and hitting coach Kevin Long were also fined for their actions in the brawl.

In 2008, Cabrera proved to be a less-than-adequate center fielder for the Yankees. His fielding and great arm could not make up for his poor hitting. In early August, Joe Girardi made Cabrera their fourth outfielder, making Damon the everyday center fielder. On August 15, 2008, the Yankees sent Cabrera back to their Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.[18] He was called up again to play on September 5, 2008.

2009

After the 2008 season, the Yankees came close to trading Cabrera to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mike Cameron.[19] Remaining with the Yankees, Cabrera competed with Brett Gardner for the starting center field job;[20] Gardner won the job, and Joe Girardi announced his intention to use Cabrera as a backup.[21] On April 22, 2009, Cabrera hit the first walk-off hit in the new Yankee Stadium, a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 14th inning, to help the Yankees win 9–7. By late April, due to Brett Gardner slumping, plus his own streak of stellar play, Cabrera retook the starting center field position.[22] He won the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month of May.[23]

Cabrera playing for the Braves in 2010.

On August 2, 2009, Cabrera became the first Yankee to hit for the cycle since Tony Fernandez did it on September 3, 1995. The home run was his 10th of the season, which set a new personal high. He also collected his 200th career RBI in the game.[citation needed] Cabrera finished the season by playing in his first World Series with the Yankees and helping them defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 World Series.

Atlanta Braves (2010)

On December 22, 2009, the Yankees traded Cabrera to the Atlanta Braves with Mike Dunn and pitching prospect Arodys Vizcaino for Javier Vázquez and Boone Logan.[24] Cabrera signed a one year deal worth $3.1 million with the Braves, avoiding arbitration.[25]

Cabrera hit .255 with 4 home runs and 42 RBIs in 115 games, and went 0-for-8 in the 2010 NLDS.[26] He batted in the eighth position in the Braves' batting order.[27] He was described as "pudgy", as he was not diligent about his career.[28] On October 19, 2010, Cabrera was released by the Atlanta Braves.[29]

Kansas City Royals (2011)

On December 9, 2010, Cabrera signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Kansas City Royals.[30] He sought an opportunity to have a starting role and bat in the middle of the batting lineup.[27]

In a breakout season, Cabrera set career highs in RBIs (87), runs scored (102), stolen bases (20), home runs (18), and batting average (.305), while also finishing fourth in the American League in hits, with 201.[31] Cabrera became the sixth Royal to record at least 200 hits in a season.[32]

San Francisco Giants (2012)

Cabrera playing for the Giants in 2012

On November 7, 2011, Cabrera was traded to the San Francisco Giants for left-handed pitcher Jonathan Sánchez and minor league pitcher Ryan Verdugo.[33] The Royals sought aid for their starting rotation, and freed a spot for Lorenzo Cain to play center field.[34]

Cabrera entered the season with a .275 career average.[35] On May 29, 2012, Cabrera surpassed Willie Mays for most hits in the month of May in San Francisco Giants history with 50.[36] The next night, Cabrera tied Randy Winn's San Francisco record for most hits in any month with 51.[37]

Cabrera was selected for the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, receiving a total of 7,521,784 votes, the highest number of votes received by a National League (NL) outfielder that year.[38] Cabrera, who in the fourth inning hit a two-run home run, the only of the game, was named the All-Star Game MVP as the National League went on to win, 8-0. Overall he was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.[39] Cabrera was the fifth Giants player to win the All-Star Game MVP.[40]

On August 15, 2012, Cabrera was suspended 50 games without pay after testing positive for high levels of testosterone, suggesting usage of performance-enhancing drugs. He admitted using a banned substance and accepted the suspension.[41] At the time, he had a major league-leading 159 hits and was second in the NL with a .346 batting average. He ended the year with 11 home runs, 10 triples, 13 stolen bases in 18 chances, and 60 RBIs.[35][42] One of Cabrera's associates purchased a website for $10,000 and faked its contents in a way that would have allowed Cabrera to challenge his suspension by claiming that the positive test was caused by a substance sold through the website. However league officials and federal investigators used forensics to trace that website back to Cabrera.[43][44][45] At his own request, Cabrera has been ruled ineligible to win the 2012 NL batting title (his 501 plate appearances were one short of what he would have needed to qualify, which eventually was won by his own teammate, Buster Posey).[46]

Cabrera's associate who set up the website with the intent of covering up the use of testosterone has since been banned from the clubhouses and privileged areas of the thirty major league ballparks.[47]

Cabrera's suspension expired as the Giants played in the postseason. He spent the postseason on the Restricted List until the Giants won the 2012 World Series over the Detroit Tigers. Cabrera became a free agent on October 29, 2012.

Toronto Blue Jays

Cabrera signed a two-year contract for $16 million with the Toronto Blue Jays on November 19, 2012.[48]

Personal life

In the offseason, Cabrera lives in Miami.[27] Cabrera and Robinson Canó became close friends as teammates in the minor leagues.[49] Cabrera has a son in the Dominican Republic, Melky, Jr., and two daughters who live with their mothers in New York and Orlando.[50]

Cabrera keeps an open Bible in his locker and reads a passage in it before he takes the field. Cabrera said, "I don't consider myself a Christian but I do know you have to believe in God. You have to believe you're here for a reason. That's why I'm always reading the Bible."[50]

Cabrera's nickname around the Yankee clubhouse was "Leche", which is Spanish for "milk."[51][52]

Cabrera is involved in charity work in the Dominican Republic.[53]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Left-fielder Melky Cabrera officially signs with Toronto Blue Jays". Yahoo Sports. November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Mccarron, Anthony (2004-08-22). "Yanks look to travel Melky way". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  3. ^ Madden, Bill (2005-07-03). "Yankees Going Melky Way. Cabrera On Center Stage In Bombers' Future Plan". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  4. ^ The Associated Press. "Cabrera makes history as latest center fielder". recordonline.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  5. ^ Feinsand, Mark (2050-07-07). "Yankees promote prospect Cabrera". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Feinsand, Mark (2005-07-07). "Yanks ride long balls to victory | yankees.com: News". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  7. ^ Everson, Darren (2005-07-10). "Melky Muff Costs Yanks Bad Day For Rookie". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  8. ^ Borden, Sam (2005-08-05). "Carl Set To Return Tuesday". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  9. ^ Feinsand, Mark (2006-05-30). "Yanks beat Tigers in extras". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  10. ^ Mink, Ryan (2006-06-15). "A-Rod, Yankees fall short in finale". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  11. ^ Feinsand, Mark (2006-06-06). "Yankees.com". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  12. ^ "2006 This Year in Baseball Awards". mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  13. ^ Feinsand, Mark (2006-07-05). "Cabrera helps Yanks pay back Tribe | yankees.com: News". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  14. ^ Mink, Ryan (2006-07-18). "Cabrera's long ball sinks Mariners | yankees.com: News". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  15. ^ "Yankee All Time Walk Off Home Runs". yankeenumbers.com. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  16. ^ a b "Baseball Reference: Melky Cabrera". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  17. ^ Hoch, Bryan (2007-08-09). "Cabrera maturing nicely for Yanks | yankees.com: News". Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  18. ^ Rubin, Roger (2008-08-16). "Major change in Robinson Cano after Melky Cabrera was sent down". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  19. ^ Dan Graziano. "Yankees-Brewers trade in peril over money, hurt feelings". NJ.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  20. ^ Feinsand, Mark (2009-03-19). "Melky Cabrera is gaining on Brett Gardner for start in center field". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  21. ^ "Gardner Wins Yanks Center Field Job". SI.com. 2009-03-29.
  22. ^ Hoch, Bryan (2009-04-29). "With Gardner slumping, Melky starts". MLB.com. Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  23. ^ Hoch, Bryan (2009-06-08). "Melky wins May's Pepsi Clutch Performer | MLB.com: News". MLB.com. Newyork.yankees.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  24. ^ "Yankees acquire pitcher Javier Vazquez from Braves for Melky Cabera, Prospects". ESPN.com. 2009-12-22. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  25. ^ Enrique RojasESPNdeportesArchive (2010-01-14). "Atlanta Braves, Melky Cabrera avoid arbitration - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  26. ^ "Kansas City Royals, OF Melky Cabrera agree to contract - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  27. ^ a b c By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com. "Melky warm to idea of playing in chilly KC | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  28. ^ Posted: 1:27 AM, June 21, 2012 (2012-06-21). "Alex Rodriguez's lack of doubles, not just home runs, a troubling sign for the New York Yankees, Joel Sherman says". NYPOST.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Woodworth, Brandon. "Braves release Melky Cabrera « Bowman's Blog". Markbowman.mlblogs.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  30. ^ "Royals sign Melky Cabrera: report". CBC News. December 9, 2010.
  31. ^ "Melky Cabrera Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights".
  32. ^ Dutton, Bob. "Kevin Seitzer welcomes Melky Cabrera to 200-hit club". KansasCity.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  33. ^ Haft, Chris (2011-11-07). "Giants land Melky by sending Sanchez to KC". MLB.com. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  34. ^ Dutton, Bob (2011-11-07). "Royals get Sanchez from Giants for Cabrera". KansasCity.com. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  35. ^ a b Lacques, Gabe (August 15, 2012). "Melky Cabrera suspended 50 games for testosterone". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ Haft, Chris (2012-05-30). "Melky's big night helps Giants top D-backs". MLB.com. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  37. ^ Haft, Chris (2012-05-31). "Lincecum's strong start goes unrewarded". MLB.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  38. ^ "2012 All-Star Game starters announced". MLB.com. 2012-07-01. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  39. ^ Skretta, Dave (July 10, 2012). "Triple the fun as NL leads 8-0 in All-Star Game". Yahoo! Sports.
  40. ^ "Melky delivers, earns All-Star MVP honors". MLB.com. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  41. ^ McCauley, Janie (August 15, 2012). "Giants LF Cabrera suspended for positive drug test". Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  42. ^ "Melky Cabrera suspended 50 games". ESPN.com. August 15, 2012. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ Blum, Ronald (19 August 2012). "Giants' Cabrera created fake website to avoid 50-game suspension: report". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Associated Press. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  44. ^ Kawakami, Tim (19 August 2012). "Melky Cabrera's fake website, false innocence make him look worse than guilty". Daily Democrat. Woodland, California. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  45. ^ Thompson, Teri; Madden, Bill; Red, Christian; O'Keeffe, Michael; Vinton (19 August 2012). "Daily News uncovers bizarre plot by San Francisco Giants' Melky Cabrera to use fake website and duck drug suspension". New York Daily News. Retrieved 20 August 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |firsr5= ignored (help)
  46. ^ Baggarly, Andrew. "Melky Cabrera ruled ineligible to win batting crown". Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  47. ^ "Juan Nunez, associate of San Francisco Giants' Melky Cabrera, banned by MLB". ESPN. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  48. ^ "Blue Jays sign Melky Cabrera to two-year, $16 million deal". TSN.ca. November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  49. ^ Brennan, Sean (2006-06-09). "Cano Shows Melky Way - New York Daily News". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  50. ^ a b Schulman, Henry (2012-06-01). "Melky Cabrera: Torrid-hitting Giant making name for self". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
  51. ^ "ESPN.com - E-ticket: King of Gotham?". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  52. ^ http://translate.google.com/#es%7Cen%7Cmasa%20pan%20con%20leche%0A
  53. ^ "Melky Cabrera hace realidad sueño". El Nacional Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 2012-07-11.

External links

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