Oswaldo Cabrera is preparing to return to the New York Yankees lineup after spending more than nine months recovering from a serious left ankle injury. The utility player is scheduled to play shortstop in the Yankees’ Grapefruit League game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“I’m so excited. I can’t control my emotions right now,” Cabrera said during Thursday’s rain-shortened 15-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. “Having nine months out of the field, I feel so happy about it. I’m feeling so good right now.”
Cabrera, who recently turned 27, played in 34 games last season before suffering a fractured left ankle and ligament damage while sliding during a game at T-Mobile Park on May 12. He was taken off the field by ambulance and underwent surgery three days later. After using a scooter and walking boot during his recovery, he was able to start fielding ground balls before the end of last season.
Manager Aaron Boone commented on Cabrera’s recovery process: “It’s been a pretty long road for him. It’s been exciting to see some of the improvement he’s made over the last few weeks.
“Even after the new year, he got to a point where he was still trying to work to get over the hump. That’s been a challenge. Just talking with the trainers the last couple of weeks, it’s really starting to move for him.”
Cabrera described watching his teammates continue playing as one of the hardest parts of his recovery: “When you’re in this clubhouse, you feel like part of this family,” he said. “That was tough.”
Over four seasons with New York, Cabrera has played every position except pitcher and catcher. However, his spot on this year’s Opening Day roster remains uncertain. With Anthony Volpe expected to start the season on the injured list due to shoulder surgery, Ryan McMahon is being considered as backup shortstop behind José Caballero.
With less than three weeks before Opening Day against San Francisco at Oracle Park, Boone addressed Cabrera’s chances: “I’m not going to rule that out,” Boone said. “We want to pay attention to how he’s doing and be smart about it.”
In other team news, Cody Bellinger returned from back stiffness that kept him out since February 27. He played four innings in right field Thursday and had two plate appearances including a walk.
“We were on defense quite a bit today, so the guys were out there standing around a lot,” Boone said regarding Bellinger’s return. “Those are the things you’ve got to be used to in Spring Training. With Belli, it didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but it was good to get him back out there.”
Pitcher Paul Blackburn also discussed recent changes in his pitching technique that have led to improved performance late last season with New York compared with his time with another club earlier in 2023.
“Last year [with the Mets], there was a little bit of trying to lower the arm slot, trying to get a little more sync and lift on a sweeper,” Blackburn said. “I felt like I was fighting myself a lot there. I didn’t feel like I was myself at all.
“In August, I said, ‘Screw it,’ and went back to how I was, more over the top, more trying to drive the ball down. And when I came here and talked to the pitching guys, that’s where they wanted me.”
Blackburn signed again with New York in January on a one-year contract worth $2 million and is expected mainly as long relief for their bullpen.
“I felt like I was nibbling a little bit, which kind of leads to me getting in trouble,” Blackburn added after Thursday’s outing against Minnesota where he allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings pitched including giving up Luke Keaschall’s home run in third inning.“I felt good. I felt like the stuff was sharp.”
