Daniel Cabrera

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #16 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Cabrera was a consistent three-year performer in college at Louisiana State, and the Tigers knew him well when they made him their second-round selection in 2020 thanks to general manager Al Avila’s connection to the program. Cabrera posted a .910 OPS and hit 22 homers as an amateur in the SEC, but his professional debut wasn’t particularly powerful. He hit .242/.300/.395 in 99 games with High-A West Michigan and struggled mightily after being promoted to Double-A Erie, hitting .174 in 17 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Cabrera lacks a true carrying tool, but he’s always impressed scouts with a fluid lefthanded swing, solid hand-eye coordination and bat speed. His approach was tested at times in 2021, especially against upper-level pitching, and he’s susceptible to effective breaking balls when his swing mechanics fall out of sync. His swing is heavily hands driven which can lead to a variety of timing issues, and professional pitchers exploited this. Defensively, Cabrera worked hard to improve his athleticism to the point where he’s a viable option in right field in addition to left field. Despite his average speed, Cabrera boasts above-average arm strength and advanced instincts which boost his overall fielding grade.
  
  The Future: Set to turn 24 years old in September, Cabrera was considered a potential quick-mover as an amateur, but he’ll need to refine his eye to jump back on a fast track.
  
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #9 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Cabrera was a top draft prospect in high school but fell to the 26th round due to his strong commitment to Louisiana State. He hit .305 with 22 home runs and 116 RBIs in a decorated three-year career at LSU and was drafted by the Tigers with the 62nd overall pick in 2020. Cabrera signed for $1.21 million and made his organizational debut during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Cabrera’s calling card is his bat. He possesses a fluid, simple stroke from the left side, complemented by good hand-eye coordination and bat speed. He shoots line drives to all fields and is an extremely consistent hitter who avoids prolonged slumps. Cabrera’s power is more of a question mark. Some believe he’ll be able to tap into his above-average raw power with his natural ability to find the barrel, while others question whether he will be able to get to it against better pitching. Originally a left fielder, Cabrera transitioned to right field and has the above-average arm strength and athleticism to stick there. He is an average runner.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cabrera has a chance to move quickly as an advanced college hitter. He’ll go as far as his bat takes him and has a chance to develop into a solid, everyday outfielder if his power comes.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #42 prospect in 2020 draft
  Scouts have been infatuated with Cabrera’s swing since his days as a prep player. Out of Parkview Baptist High in Baton Rouge, evaluators admired his standout barrel control and a bat path that stayed in the zone for a long time. Known for his all-fields line drives in high school, Cabrera has started to tap into more of his raw power over three years at Louisiana State, highlighted by a 12-homer campaign in 2019. There aren’t many moving parts in Cabrera’s swing. It’s simple and easy and, like his prep days, he’s still capable of hitting the ball to all fields, which has helped him stay consistent. While his raw power is more above-average than plus, and mostly to the pull side, he’s the sort of hitter scouts believe will tap into everything he has during games. His power numbers were more suppressed last summer in the wood-bat Cape Cod League, so how his power transfers to a wood bat in pro ball is worth considering. Including 16 games in a shortened 2020 season, Cabrera is a .300/.382/.520 hitter in his LSU career. He has a corner-outfield profile and will likely be no more than average defensively there, and probably fits best in left field. Because of that, there’s more pressure on his bat, but he’s one of the college hitters who scouts generally feel comfortable with moving forward. He could sneak into the back of the first round or go off the board at some point in the second.
• Ranked #82 prospect in 2017 draft
  Cabrera can really hit. The lefty has a sweet swing, with his bat staying through the zone for a long time and he has excellent barrel control, making him one of the best pure hitters in the high school draft class. He uses the whole field well and shows solid pitch recognition. Because his swing is geared more for line drives than loft, it's less than a sure bet that he'll end up developing his raw power into home runs in games. All of that makes him a tough call to buy out his Louisiana State commitment. Cabrera projects as a corner outfielder in pro ball because of his below-average speed. Cabrera is actually a quite accomplished high school pitcher, but his arm plays as only average in the outfield. Cabrera has excellent baseball instincts, a long track record of success both at the plate and on the mound and an above-average bat. But his future success will revolve around how much power he can eventually generate.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Cabrera was a consistent three-year performer in college at Louisiana State, and the Tigers knew him well when they made him their second-round selection in 2020 thanks to general manager Al Avila’s connection to the program. Cabrera posted a .910 OPS and hit 22 homers as an amateur in the SEC, but his professional debut wasn’t particularly powerful. He hit .242/.300/.395 in 99 games with High-A West Michigan and struggled mightily after being promoted to Double-A Erie, hitting .174 in 17 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Cabrera lacks a true carrying tool, but he’s always impressed scouts with a fluid lefthanded swing, solid hand-eye coordination and bat speed. His approach was tested at times in 2021, especially against upper-level pitching, and he’s susceptible to effective breaking balls when his swing mechanics fall out of sync. His swing is heavily hands driven which can lead to a variety of timing issues, and professional pitchers exploited this. Defensively, Cabrera worked hard to improve his athleticism to the point where he’s a viable option in right field in addition to left field. Despite his average speed, Cabrera boasts above-average arm strength and advanced instincts which boost his overall fielding grade.
  
  The Future: Set to turn 24 years old in September, Cabrera was considered a potential quick-mover as an amateur, but he’ll need to refine his eye to jump back on a fast track.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Cabrera was a top draft prospect in high school but fell to the 26th round due to his strong commitment to Louisiana State. He hit .305 with 22 home runs and 116 RBIs in a decorated three-year career at LSU and was drafted by the Tigers with the 62nd overall pick in 2020. Cabrera signed for $1.21 million and made his organizational debut during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Cabrera's calling card is his bat. He possesses a fluid, simple stroke from the left side, complemented by good hand-eye coordination and bat speed. He shoots line drives to all fields and is an extremely consistent hitter who avoids prolonged slumps. Cabrera's power is more of a question mark. Some believe he'll be able to tap into his above-average raw power with his natural ability to find the barrel, while others question whether he will be able to get to it against better pitching. Originally a left fielder, Cabrera transitioned to right field and has the above-average arm strength and athleticism to stick there. He is an average runner.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cabrera has a chance to move quickly as an advanced college hitter. He'll go as far as his bat takes him and has a chance to develop into a solid, everyday outfielder if his power comes.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Cabrera was a top draft prospect in high school but fell to the 26th round due to his strong commitment to Louisiana State. He hit .305 with 22 home runs and 116 RBIs in a decorated three-year career at LSU and was drafted by the Tigers with the 62nd overall pick in 2020. Cabrera signed for $1.21 million and made his organizational debut during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Cabrera’s calling card is his bat. He possesses a fluid, simple stroke from the left side, complemented by good hand-eye coordination and bat speed. He shoots line drives to all fields and is an extremely consistent hitter who avoids prolonged slumps. Cabrera’s power is more of a question mark. Some believe he’ll be able to tap into his above-average raw power with his natural ability to find the barrel, while others question whether he will be able to get to it against better pitching. Originally a left fielder, Cabrera transitioned to right field and has the above-average arm strength and athleticism to stick there. He is an average runner.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cabrera has a chance to move quickly as an advanced college hitter. He’ll go as far as his bat takes him and has a chance to develop into a solid, everyday outfielder if his power comes.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Cabrera was a top draft prospect in high school but fell to the 26th round due to his strong commitment to Louisiana State. He hit .305 with 22 home runs and 116 RBIs in a decorated three-year career at LSU and was drafted by the Tigers with the 62nd overall pick in 2020. Cabrera signed for $1.21 million and made his organizational debut during instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Cabrera’s calling card is his bat. He possesses a fluid, simple stroke from the left side, complemented by good hand-eye coordination and bat speed. He shoots line drives to all fields and is an extremely consistent hitter who avoids prolonged slumps. Cabrera’s power is more of a question mark. Some believe he’ll be able to tap into his above-average raw power with his natural ability to find the barrel, while others question whether he will be able to get to it against better pitching. Originally a left fielder, Cabrera transitioned to right field and has the above-average arm strength and athleticism to stick there. He is an average runner.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cabrera has a chance to move quickly as an advanced college hitter. He’ll go as far as his bat takes him and has a chance to develop into a solid, everyday outfielder if his power comes.