Position: IF/OF
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 204 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 05/03/1997
High School: Grainger HS (Rutledge, TN)
How Acquired: Waiver claim (from Astros)
Drafted: 4th Round, 110th Overall, 2015 (Twins)
Bonus: $760,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 1
Overview
Minnesota drafted Cabbage as an athletic corner player who had a chance to hit for at least average power. He made fairly slow progress through their system and ultimately left as a minor league free agent. Since reaching the upper minors, he’s shown very good power, but also a lot of swing-and-miss. He ultimately reached the majors briefly in 2023 and 2024, and didn’t hit well. Scouts rated him as a below-average runner coming out of prep school, but he’s stolen a lot of bases in recent years and Statcast rates his speed as above average. Cabbage played some at third in the low minors, but since then he’s played mainly at first and in the outfield corners. He has a good arm and his range seems around average.
2015-17
Cabbage struggled in the low minors for several years. He didn’t hit much in rookie or advanced rookie ball in 2015 or 2016, and had trouble making contact. In 2017, he got off to a good start in advanced rookie ball and the Twins promoted him to low A, where he put up just a .603 OPS in 47 games.
2018-20
In 2018, Cabbage returned to low A for the season and managed a .710 OPS, although his walk and strikeout rates remained weak. Minnesota sent him back there to open 2019 and he got off to a fast start, getting an early promotion to high A, where he put up just a .687 OPS.
Cabbage didn’t play during the pandemic season.
2021-22
In 2021, Cabbage took a step forward. He played 40 games in high A — although at 24 he was old for the level — then 68 in AA and had nearly identical numbers at both stops: an .882 OPS at the higher level and .880 at the lower. Between the two levels, he hit 27 home runs, but he also fanned 160 times, for a 37% strikeout rate. After the season, Cabbage became a minor league free agent and signed with the Angels.
Cabbage missed most of 2022 with a fractured left forearm. He got into 30 games in AA and had a 1.098 OPS with ten home runs. He also had a strikeout rate of 35%.
2023-24
In 2023, Cabbage had a big season in AAA for the Angels, batting 306/379/596 with 30 home runs. He got his K rate down a bit, to 30%. The Angels called him up in July and he appeared in 22 games with them, posting a .553 OPS and striking out in almost exactly half his at-bats. After the season, the Angels traded Cabbage to Houston.
Cabbage split the 2024 season between AAA and the majors. He hit well in AAA, but not as well as the year before, with 13 home runs in 66 games and an .824 OPS. He had a 34% strikeout rate. For Houston, he appeared in 45 games, although he got only 91 plate appearances. He had a .591 OPS. Between his two major league stints, Cabbage had a brutal BB:K of 6:60.
The Pirates claimed Cabbage off waivers after the 2024 season. He has one option left.
Stats
Transactions
June 9, 2015: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round, 110th overall pick; signed on June 15.
November 7, 2021: Became a free agent.
November 28, 2021: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Los Angeles Angels.
July 14, 2023: Contract purchased by the Los Angeles Angels.
January 31, 2024: Traded by the Los Angeles Angels to the Houston Astros for Carlos Espinosa.
November 4, 2024: Claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros by the Pittsburgh Pirates.