Jose Cabrera delivers enthusiastic, impressive MLB debut despite Diamondbacks’ loss

PHOENIX — From sprinting out to the mound, smiling ear-to-ear after each inning and pitching five shutout frames, Arizona Diamondbacks starter Jose Cabrera provided a combination of welcome enthusiasm and production in his MLB debut on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins.

Cabrera, called up after only three Triple-A starts, left the game to a standing ovation with a 2-0 lead, but the Diamondbacks did not back him up. The Twins stole the game late, 4-2, scoring all four runs with two outs.

Minnesota plated three runs off reliever Juan Morillo in the seventh inning, and the winning run came home after Corbin Carroll’s throw to third base ricocheted off the sliding Josh Bell and into the dugout.

It was a disheartening result for a Diamondbacks team that was dealt severe injury setbacks this week, from Jordan Lawlar to Michael Soroka to Ryne Nelson.

A .500 record keeps catching up to the Diamondbacks like Michael Myers (39-38), and this homestand against the Los Angeles Angels and Twins provided an opportunity for elevation. The schedule gets much tougher this week with road series at the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

Jose Cabrera delights Chase Field in debut

Cabrera allowed three hits and no walks in his first impression, living up to his strike-thrower reputation.

The only time he felt really threatened was in the third inning with runners on second and third with two outs and Twins star Byron Buxton up. Cabrera threw Buxton a cutter, a sweeper and a curveball out of the zone for three whiffs to end the inning. It showed off his deep arsenal, as Cabrera used six pitches on Sunday.

The game had a rhythm with him on the mound, as he handled the pressure of pitching in front of 35,000 fans on Father’s Day well. He said he felt at home.

Walking back to the dugout, Cabrera tipped his hat to the crowd and pointed up to the stands. He was motioning to his parents, who traveled from the Dominican Republic to watch him.

Cabrera became the first pitcher to throw five-plus shutout innings in his MLB debut this season and the eighth Diamondbacks pitcher to do so in franchise history. Drey Jameson and Nelson both did it in 2022.

José Cabrera se enteró que iba para el Big Show el viernes y hoy lanzó 5 entradas con 0 ER. 🔥🇩🇴 pic.twitter.com/qZWwCKtkwY

— MLB Español (@mlbespanol) June 21, 2026

The Diamondbacks needed to make a decision on Sunday’s starter after placing Nelson on the injured list on Friday. Cabrera lined up well enough and has put together a solid season in the minor leagues with a 3.49 ERA between Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A Reno, which are two hitter-friendly environments.

Cabrera is not on Arizona’s top 30 prospects list from MLB Pipeline but has impressed officials in the organization to be considered an underrated prospect.

Manager Torey Lovullo said he has every reason to believe Cabrera will make his next start in the majors.

“It felt super good,” Cabrera said. “I enjoyed it a lot, which was important.”

 

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Geraldo Perdomo told Diamondbacks to sign Jose Cabrera

Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo was elated to see Cabrera do his thing, as the two go way back to even before Cabrera signed with the D-backs out of the Dominican Republic.

Cabrera signed in 2021 as a 19-year-old, a bit older for Latin American international signees. Perdomo said he had previously faced Cabrera in live batting practice and told Diamondbacks officials about him.

“I remember when he threw me live BP before he signed, and I just told (vice president of Latin American scouting and development) Cesar Geronimo to sign that guy,” Perdomo said. “I know how hard he’s been working. I know how much work we’ve put in together at home. And he deserves it. He’s a really good guy. I know he’s going to help this team a lot. And he’s really aggressive. He can throw strikes.”

Perdomo said his cousin was training Cabrera in La Canela, which is in San Gregorio de Nigua, near Santo Domingo. Perdomo said he would face the right-hander because he threw hard.

“I just told him how to pitch and how to throw to a batter like me,” Perdomo said. “I feel like he was getting better every single time. So, when I saw that, I told a couple guys from the Diamondbacks’ scouting.”

 

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Why is Jose Cabrera’s nickname El Caimán?

Cabrera has a unique nickname of “El Caimán,” which refers to the crocodilian that lives in Central and South America.

He said fellow Dominican Diamondbacks pitching prospect Alfred Morillo came up with it.

“Alfred Morillo gave me that nickname because the way I pitch: I’m quiet, but with a lot of furiosity,” Cabrera explained.

Sunday attendance

34,025

Next series

The D-backs will hit the road for seven games over the next seven days: four in St. Louis and three against Tampa Bay.

Merrill Kelly (5-6, 5.81 ERA) will start on Monday against the Cardinals, who will run out right-hander Andre Pallante (8-4, 3.76 ERA).

That game will start at 4:45 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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