Mauricio Cabrera

Mauricio Adolfo Cabrera Valdez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height' 6' 3", Weight 245 lb.

• Debut June 27, 2016
• Final Game October 1, 2016

• Born September 22, 1993 in Las Matas de Farfan, San Juan, D.R.

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Mauricio Cabrera, the brother of fellow big league hurler Alberto Cabrera, began his professional career in 2011 at 17 years old. Scouted by Roberto Aquino, he was signed by the Atlanta Braves on July 2, 2010 for a $400,000 signing bonus. Initially a starting pitcher, he had a 2.97 ERA in 12 starts his second minor league campaign, but fell to 3-8 with a 4.18 ERA in his third, despite being ranked the #6 prospect in the Braves system by Baseball America. He transitioned to the bullpen and struggled. In 2014, he entered the season ranked the #5 Braves prospect, but had a 5.73 ERA in 22 games (5 starts) and, in 2015, he had a 5.59 mark with 35 walks in 48 1/3 innings, though he averaged nearly 10 strikeouts per 9 innings. He played for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League that year and had a 6.17 ERA in 9 games.

He began 2016 in Double A and, after going 3-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 25 appearances for the Mississippi Braves (despite 22 walks in 33 2/3 innings), he earned a promotion to the majors. On June 27th, he made his debut against the Cleveland Indians, pitching one inning and allowing a hit with no runs. He earned his first save in his third game and struck out his first batter (Derek Dietrich of the Miami Marlins) in his fourth. In 41 games, he went 5-1, 2.82 with 6 saves and struck out 32 batters in 38 1/3 innings while walking 19. Even with his relatively low strikeout total, he was the second-hardest throwing pitcher in the majors, behind Aroldis Chapman, as he had 344 pitches (out of 644) clocked above 100 mph. Mauricio began 2017 back in the minors, pitching at four levels while walking the world (46 in 45 innings) with a 6.20 ERA. After 31 appearances in High A during 2018 with an 11.03 ERA and 41 more free passes in 31 innings, the Braves cut bait, Mauricio bouncing to the Chicago White Sox organization, where he continued to struggle. He joined the Arizona Diamondbacks system for 2020.

Related Sites

• Mauricio Cabrera on mlb.com