José Caballero returned to George M. Steinbrenner Field this week, facing his former team for the first time since being traded to the New York Yankees on July 31. The Tampa Bay Rays recognized Caballero with a scoreboard video tribute, receiving applause from both teams’ fans.
Caballero made an immediate impact in the game, hitting two home runs as part of the Yankees’ 13-3 win. This marked his first career multi-homer game and brought his total to 17 home runs over three seasons. “That’s why [we] are the Bronx Bombers,” Caballero said. “Hanging out with those guys, something has to be contagious.”
Although known more for speed and versatility than power, Caballero currently leads Major League Baseball with 39 stolen bases. Yankees manager Aaron Boone described him as “a real heady player” who “plays the game with a lot of confidence.” Boone added, “He brings some really useful things to the table. His ability to play the game within the game, the ability to handle the bat, obviously the running game. He’s really good on the bases, and then he’s a really good defender at four or five different spots. … He’s a winning player.”
Since joining New York, Caballero has batted .348 (8-for-23) across 12 games while starting at four positions. Boone called him “one of my favorite players,” noting that he would not have expected that sentiment before Caballero joined.
Caballero has previously been known as a challenging opponent for pitchers and opposing teams. In June 2023, during a matchup against Seattle while playing for another club, Gerrit Cole threw a pitch high above Caballero’s head after repeated delays in stepping into the batter’s box until only eight seconds remained on the pitch clock—a move that led to viral clips online.
Reflecting on his trade during a Yankees-Rays game in New York, Caballero recalled how Rays manager Kevin Cash informed him of the move mid-game. After saying goodbye to teammates Taylor Walls and Brandon Lowe, he quickly transitioned into his new role with New York.
“I like to play the game hard. I like to compete,” Caballero said. “I like to give everything I have. I like winning. It doesn’t matter how you feel that day; you’ve got to find a way to give everything you have that day.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash also praised Caballero: “I’ve said it for many, many years now: Cabby does a lot to help you win baseball games, whether it’s defensively or on the bases, coming up with the big hit here and there,” Cash said. “When we got on a run, it seemed like his speed was in a lot of the good that we were doing. We wish him well.”
Next time these teams meet, such tributes may be less likely.
