Miami Marlins top 10 prospects for 2019

10. Edward Cabrera, RHP

Birthday: 4/13/1998 (20)
Acquired: International free agent, July 2015
Level(s): low-A Greensboro
Statistics: 4-8, 22 GS, 100 1/3 IP, 4.22 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 9.5% BB, 21.1% K

The Miami Marlins signed Edward Cabrera out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2015 for just $100K. His big arm caught plenty of attention, and at 6’4″ with a projectable frame, Cabrera had many in the organization dreaming big things on his right arm.

His first full season in 2018 had plenty of ups and downs. The positives were definitely his velocity, as he touched 101-102 (depending on whose gun you’re asking), and he was able to hold the velocity deep into games. He noted particularly difficult movement for hitters to square up when he worked in the bottom of the zone, seemingly finding a second gear on the run his fastball gets throughout the zone.

Cabrera’s offspeed offerings will be what determines his long-term fate. At its best, he has a slider that he can work with an incredible short break or with a sweep into the left-handed batter’s box. He also seemed to blend his short-breaking slider with more of a cut action, which could simply be a different release pressure on the slider, or he could be throwing a slider/cutter hybrid.

The change is behind the first two pitches, but it has some excellent late movement when used low in the zone. He seemed to be working on change grips through the season as he had different movement on the pitch at different points of the season.

Cabrera could benefit from a fastball variant, like a split-finger fastball or a cutter, to mix into his arsenal to keep hitters honest with his blazing fastball, but if he continues down his current path, he has the ability to become a frontline starter. He’ll tackle the Florida State League in 2019.