Oswaldo Cabrera suffers major injury in Yankees win
A celebratory night for the Yankees turned somber Monday as third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera was taken off the field in an ambulance after suffering a painful ankle injury in the ninth inning of New York’s 11-5 win over the Mariners.
Cabrera, 26, was injured while sliding awkwardly into home plate to score on Aaron Judge’s sacrifice fly, the final run of the game.
As he reached back to touch the plate, his left ankle twisted unnaturally, leaving him writhing in pain and unable to stand.
The visual is tough to watch but Justin Shackil put it perfectly. There’s not a single person in this sport who deserves something like this to happen less than Oswaldo Cabrera. pic.twitter.com/lXnLEY4vHQ https://t.co/lIBxQcFWHI
Medical staff rushed to his aid as teammates looked on in concern.
Cabrera was fitted with a brace and stretchered off the field before being transported to a local hospital, accompanied by Yankees trainer Tim Lentych.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the severity of the situation postgame.
“I think everyone understands it was a pretty serious situation,” Boone said. “Just praying for our guy tonight and hoping for the best.”
Despite the pain, Cabrera’s spirit was intact. According to Aaron Judge, his first concern was whether he crossed the plate.
“Right before he got carted off, he just called me over and said, ‘Hey, did I score?’” Judge recounted. “That kind of shows you what type of guy he is.”
Cabrera, now in his fourth MLB season, has worked his way into becoming a staple in the Yankees lineup.
He’s batting .243 with one home run and 12 RBIs this season. More than stats, though, Cabrera’s energy and work ethic have made him a clubhouse favorite.
“He cares for everybody in this room. He loves being a Yankee,” Judge added. “This is a tough one, especially for a guy that’s grinded his whole life and finally got the opportunity to be our everyday guy.”
The Yankees are expected to provide a formal update once Cabrera undergoes further evaluation.