Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

One of the top prospects in the 2022 international class, Cabrera signed with the Reds for $2.7 million when the signing period opened that January. He first provided an early return on the investment when he came stateside in 2023, finishing with an OPS over 1.000 and touching full-season ball for the first time. His full year at Single-A Daytona in 2024 wasn’t as dynamic, though he held his own, but he wasn’t able to create any momentum with a move to High-A Dayton when a slow start was stopped 21 games in by a knee injury that ended his season.

Given the struggles he had in the Midwest League and the injury, this is a big season for the 21-year-old. There’s plenty of bat speed and raw power to tap into for the right-handed hitter and Cabrera has shown in the past an ability to jump on fastballs. He’s always been an aggressive hitter, though he seemed to have more of an overall approach when he first came to the United States, something that regressed as he moved to full-season ball. He chases far too much and struggles against spin, things he’ll have to address if he wants to progress through the system.

Signed initially as a shortstop, Cabrera last saw playing time at the premium position in 2024, focusing on third in 2025 while also getting reps at second base. That will continue to be the plan, and how he bounces back from the knee injury and maintains his athleticism will determine where on the dirt he ultimately lands.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

Cabrera came in at No. 3 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 international prospects list ahead of the 2022 signing period. When the period opened in January, the Reds jumped in, giving him a bonus of $2.7 million to join the organization. After getting his feet wet in the Dominican Summer League after signing, Cabrera had a huge United States debut with a 1.028 OPS in the Arizona Complex League and a late bump up to full-season ball. That’s where he spent the season in 2024, and while the numbers didn’t jump off the page in the same way, he still finished in the top 10 in the Florida State League in OPS and wRC+.

It’s clear that Cabrera’s most comfortable spot is in the batter’s box. The right-handed hitter has terrific bat speed and can absolutely punish fastballs, though he’s not nearly as productive against spin and softer stuff. He’s a very aggressive hitter and while he largely manages his strikeouts, he chases too much, with a 43-percent chase rate in 2024 according to Synergy. There’s plenty of power for him to tap into, with most of it showing up to his pull side.

While he signed as a shortstop, got some time at the premium spot in 2024 and will keep getting reps there for flexibility-sake, he won’t be able to stay there long term. His strong arm would work very well from third and he’s going to continue to learn how to play second base, but it’s looking more and more like he’s going to have to hit his way to the big leagues.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

Considered one of the best prospects on the 2022 international market, Cabrera officially joined the Reds when that signing period opened on Jan. 15 for $2.7 million. While his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League was relatively nondescript, he started to show what all the fuss was about during his United States debut. Cabrera finished second in the Arizona Complex League in OPS (1.028) and wRC+ (158) while hitting .350. That earned him a late bump to Single-A Daytona, where he hit in four of the five games he played.

Cabrera’s right-handed bat is clearly going to be his calling card. He has an advanced feel for hitting with outstanding bat speed and the ability to use all fields. His overall approach improved some, with an increase in walks as his strikeout rate ticked down a bit in 2023. Like with many young hitters, he’ll need to keep working on recognizing spin, but he can really punish a fastball.

Signed as a shortstop, Cabrera split time between short and third base in the ACL, and his plus arm will definitely work from the left side of the infield. He has decent hands, but he’s slowing down some so the move to the hot corner may eventually become permanent. That would put more pressure on the raw power to show up, and he’ll keep getting reps up the middle for as long as possible.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

When the 2022 international signing period opened in January of that year, Cabrera was No. 3 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International Prospects list. The Reds signed him right when the period opened for $2.7 million, tied for the fourth-highest bonus handed out for the period. He had a modest debut in the Dominican Summer League but showed some of what all the fuss was about as an amateur.

Right now, Cabrera’s bat is ahead of his glove. While his statline didn’t jump off the page in the DSL, he did display an early ability to use the whole field from the right side of the plate. He has bat speed and raw power to tap into with an idea of what he wants to do as a hitter, though he’ll have to continue to make more consistent contact to get to it as he advances. 

Cabrera runs well, and the Reds will let him stay at shortstop for as long as possible. He has the arm, hands and footwork to play there for now. There’s a chance he’ll outgrow the spot and have to move to third, where the Reds think his bat will profile well. The teenager’s offseason focus was on getting in the weight room, establishing a pro routine and showing up for his United States debut as athletic as possible.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

While training with Denny Suarez, a member of Major League Baseball’s Trainer Partnership program, in Venezuela, Cabrera’s tools caught the eye of all 30 teams. He was ranked No. 3 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 international prospects list when the 2022 signing period opened in January. The Reds were all in, signing the shortstop for $2.7 million on Jan. 15, the first day of the signing period.

Cabrera has the chance to have every tool in the proverbial toolbox. He has a good idea of what he’s doing at the plate, with the right-handed hitter using all fields and making hard contact. He has good raw power and some idea of how to access it already, creating backspin. 

With solid average speed, Cabrera should have the range to stick at shortstop for a long time. He has more than enough arm for the position, with good hands and footwork. If the 17-year old outgrows the position, he has the chance to hit enough to profile well at third. The Reds were impressed with his work at their strength camp in the Dominican Republic and think they got a first-round talent on their hands.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55  | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Cabrera is an athletic shortstop with a chance to have five above-average tools, but it’s his bat that really separates him from other top hitters in the class.

At the plate, Cabrera shows an advanced approach with pitch recognition. He sprays hard line drives all over the field, stays through the strike zone well and creates backspin. He already shows gap power and is on track for plus power in the future.

On defense, Cabrera has soft hands, good footwork and the type of range that will make him at least an average shortstop. There’s a chance he could move to third base if he continues to grow and develop, but he projects to have enough offensive firepower to make the switch. He’s also an above-average runner.

Cabrera trains with Denny Suarez, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, in Venezuela. The Reds are the favorite to sign him.

Awards

FSL Player of the Week

Week	Team
04/21/2024

Baseball America Rookie All-Star

Year	Team
2023

ACL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	05/21/2026	Dayton Dragons placed SS Ricky Cabrera on the full-season injured list.
	03/17/2026	Dayton Dragons placed SS Ricky Cabrera on the 60-day injured list.
	03/17/2026	Dayton Dragons placed SS Ricky Cabrera on the 60-day injured list.
	03/05/2026	SS Ricky Cabrera assigned to Cincinnati Reds Prospects.
	11/06/2025	Dayton Dragons activated SS Ricky Cabrera from the full-season injured list.
	05/27/2025	Dayton Dragons placed SS Ricky Cabrera on the full-season injured list.
	05/27/2025	Dayton Dragons placed SS Ricky Cabrera on the full-season injured list.
	05/06/2025	Dayton Dragons placed SS Ricky Cabrera on the 7-day injured list.
	04/01/2025	SS Ricardo Cabrera assigned to Dayton Dragons from Daytona Tortugas.
	03/06/2025	activated SS Ricardo Cabrera.
	02/22/2025	SS Ricardo Cabrera assigned to Cincinnati Reds.
	09/24/2024	Daytona Tortugas activated SS Ricardo Cabrera from the 7-day injured list.
	09/07/2024	Daytona Tortugas placed SS Ricardo Cabrera on the 7-day injured list retroactive to September 6, 2024.
	08/09/2024	Daytona Tortugas activated SS Ricardo Cabrera from the 7-day injured list.
	07/31/2024	Daytona Tortugas placed SS Ricardo Cabrera on the 7-day injured list.
	03/14/2024	SS Ricardo Cabrera assigned to Cincinnati Reds.
	11/05/2023	SS Ricardo Cabrera assigned to Perth Heat.
	09/05/2023	SS Ricardo Cabrera assigned to Daytona Tortugas from ACL Reds.
	09/05/2023	Daytona Tortugas activated SS Ricardo Cabrera.
	06/05/2023	ACL Reds activated SS Ricardo Cabrera.
	06/05/2023	SS Ricardo Cabrera assigned to ACL Reds.
	12/15/2022	SS Ricardo Cabrera and assigned to Caribes de Anzoategui.
	03/22/2022	SS Ricardo Cabrera assigned to DSL Reds.
	01/15/2022	Cincinnati Reds signed free agent SS Ricardo Cabrera to a minor league contract.