Yaniel Cabezas

Yaniel Cabezas
also called Yaniel Cabeza

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.

• Born April 19, 1989 in Nueva Paz, Mayabeque Cuba

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Catcher Yaniel Cabezas played two seasons for La Habana in the Cuban National League before defecting in 2009. He was still a teenager both seasons, and while the quality of Cuba's top league had started to decline due to defections, it not a surprise that he was overmatched at the level, hitting .231 in 2007-08 and .195 with no extra-base hits in 2008-09. He also played for the Cuban junior national team.

On January 30, 2011, he and fellow Cuban defector OF Rubi Silva, also 21, were signed by the Chicago Cubs after being declared free agents. He played in the Cubs system from 2011 to 2013 but peaked in Class A. In 2011, he played 50 games between the AZL Cubs and Boise Hawks of the Pioneer League, batting .202/.284/.260. In 2012, he played 58 games for the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League, hitting .197/.233/.245. In his final season, he was with the Kane County Cougars, still in the Midwest League, and the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League, and hit a lot better, finishing at .260/.317/.313 in 43 games. He was let go following that season. He played one final season in the independent leagues, spending 2014 with the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am Association, where he hit .216/.250/.243 in 21 games.