New York Yankees utility player Oswaldo Cabrera almost missed the 2022 season after a gruesome shoulder injury.
Oswaldo Cabrera, a 23-year-old infielder for the New York Yankees, had a dream rookie season in 2022. Playing for Yankees-affiliated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the infielder was hitting at .330 in 25 Triple-A outings. He showed flashes of raw talent which led to his major league promotion later in the year in the month of August.
However, all the efforts could have washed down the drain had Oswaldo Cabrera didn’t make the right decision at the right time. In the midst of his dream rookie season, a gruesome injury shattered his dreams of a major league call-up. However, Cabrera’s determination and resilience paid off as he recovered within the set time frame and successfully made his debut in August.
Oswaldo Cabrera Saved By An Apparent “Divine Intervention”
In May last season, New York Yankees infielder, Oswaldo Cabrera, suffered an injury when his backswing of the bat hit his already inflamed shoulder. Despite feeling significant pain, Cabrera resumed the game in the field and dealt multiple hits at the same spot. After the game, when he went for scans, the doctors informed him of the formation of a cyst in his shoulder, which would eventually require surgery. However, surgery at that stage would have ended Oswaldo’s 2022 run.
Hence, Oswaldo Cabrera quite literally begged the medical staff to let him heal through rehab. The doctors gave in to his request and allowed him one month of time. However, Cabrera kept pushing the deadline as his shoulder did not improve until one Friday night. He refers to it as a divine intervention, as he promised to undergo surgery after that night. And the rest is history. The infielder went on to play at the majors and posted .247 in 154 at-bats for the Yankees, with 6 home runs and 19 RBIs in total. Moreover, As for his decision to say no to season-ending surgery, Cabrera doesn’t regret it for a second.
“All the doctors were telling me to have surgery, but I couldn’t do it,” said Oswaldo Cabrera.
Yankees Considering Cabrera At Center Field To Replace Bader
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees face the formidable challenge of finding a replacement for Harrison Bader at center field after the latter’s oblique injury issues. Further, the Bombers are looking at utility player Oswaldo Cabrera to hold the honors. While fielding Oswaldo at the center seems like an outrageous choice, the Yankees are pretty serious with the thought.
Oswaldo Cabrera is a tad bit inexperienced when it comes to playing in the outfield. Moreover, holding the center position is not everyone’s cup of tea, considering the long dimensions. However, being a utility player comes with its own set of perks. The 24-year-old certainly understands the gravity of this opportunity and would be ready to accept it gracefully. With Aaron Judge standing as the perfect choice for replacement, will the Yanks take this gamble with Oswaldo? Only time will tell.