Scouting Report

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

Caba reminds some scouts of a young Francisco Lindor.

The teen has a chance to be an above-average player defensively because of his instincts at shortstop and strong arm. He makes all of the routine plays and shows a good internal clock in games. He shows the type of footwork and soft hands that will keep him at the position as he makes his way through the Minor Leagues.

The switch-hitter displays sound mechanics and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He makes consistent hard contact, and more raw power could come as he develops and matures. He also has a chance to be an above-average runner.

Caba trains with Basilio “Cachaza” Vizcaino in the Dominican Republic. The Phillies are among the teams who have shown strong interest in him. Vizcaino is a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 65 | Overall: 55             

Thought to be one of the best players in the 2023 international signing class, Caba was ranked near the top of MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 international prospects list when the signing period opened. The Phillies were thrilled to sign the Dominican shortstop for $3 million. They were even more excited following his debut in the Dominican Summer League, where he showed off a myriad of skills, hitting .301 with a .423 on-base percentage while playing outstanding defense.

Caba’s athleticism jumps out on both sides of the ball. The switch-hitting teenager has a knack for making a ton of contact from both sides of the plate. It’s an extreme hit-over-power profile right now, with a slashing-to-all-fields kind of approach. He almost never strikes out, and during his debut, he had a K rate under 10 percent while walking in just over 17 percent of his plate appearances. He should be a consistently plus runner who can continue to steal bags and take extra bases. He lacks impact right now, but there’s hope added strength could help him get to at least gap power.

Just 18 for all of 2024, Caba’s floor is very high because of how gifted a defender he is. He has outstanding range, soft hands, excellent footwork and a good internal clock to go along with an above-average arm that will enable him to be a plus shortstop for a very long time. He could be a special table setter, and if the power comes more than expected -- like it did for the player Caba has been compared to, Francisco Lindor -- he could be an All-Star-caliber middle infielder.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

The 2023 international amateur class was rich with shortstops, with six showing up on the top 15 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 international prospects list. Caba, ranked No. 13 on that list, was fifth among those shortstops and signed with the Phillies for $3 million after training in the Dominican Republic with Basilio “Cachaza” Vizcaino, a member of Major League Baseball’s Trainer Partnership program.

Caba has elicited some early comps to a young Francisco Lindor. Like Lindor, he’s a switch-hitter with the chance to really hit. He has good mechanics at the plate and has shown the ability to make hard contact and use all fields. There’s some raw pop in there, and while it seems like right now, he’s more likely to be a gap-to-gap doubles hitter than one with a ton of homers, it should be noted that Lindor has rushed past early power projections.

A bouncy athlete with above-average speed, Caba has every chance to play shortstop long term and could be a plus defender at the premium position in the future, with excellent side-to-side range to go along with good footwork, soft hands and a good internal clock. He’ll be just 17 for all of the 2023 season.

Awards

DSL Mid-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/23/2024	SS Starlyn Caba assigned to Clearwater Threshers from FCL Phillies.
	03/07/2024	Philadelphia Phillies Prospects activated SS Starlyn Caba.
	11/06/2023	FCL Phillies activated SS Starlyn Caba.
	08/17/2023	SS Starlyn Caba roster status changed by FCL Phillies.
	08/14/2023	SS Starlyn Caba assigned to FCL Phillies from DSL Phillies White.
	07/29/2023	DSL NL All-Stars activated SS Starlyn Caba.
	06/04/2023	DSL Phillies White activated SS Starlyn Caba.
	01/15/2023	SS Jesus Caba assigned to DSL Phillies White.
	01/15/2023	Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent SS Jesus Caba to a minor league contract.