As Oswaldo Cabrera walked into the Yankees’ clubhouse on Sunday morning, he could be seen pounding a baseball into a faded black first baseman’s mitt.
Cabrera was preparing for his third start of the season at first, but not with his glove. The do-it-all utilityman owns a first baseman’s mitt, but he prefers DJ LeMahieu’s.
“It’s ready to go,” Cabrera said of his own glove, “but I trust more in this one.”
LeMahieu has done more than just loan leather, though. Cabrera told the Daily News that his injured teammate and another first base veteran and Gold Glover, Anthony Rizzo, have been giving him pointers at the position.
“All the time, we are talking over there, and they give me some advice that I can use,” said Cabrera’ the Yankees’ de facto backup first baseman with LeMahieu sidelined by a hip impingement. “Nothing super, super crazy or whatever. It’s just like things that can happen in the game.
“That means a lot, especially for a guy who doesn’t play very often at first base.”
Cabrera has only logged 49.2 innings at first in his three-year career. However, he’s yet to make an error there, and he looked solid on Sunday.
Cabrera showed off his flexibility in the Yankees’ 5-2 win over the Red Sox, stretching for several throws. That included a reach for a bouncing Anthony Volpe toss from the hole and an extension on a game-ending double play. Boston speedster Jarren Duran was running on the latter play.
“I love Oswaldo with a glove on,” Aaron Boone said before the game while also noting that Cabrera has hit well lately. “So wherever I put him, he prepares really well. When he’s not playing, he gets his work in at the different spots in the infield positions. He’s always shagging to make sure he’s getting looks off the bat from the outfield. So Oswaldo is kind of that perfect utility guy that you feel good about wherever you put him”
Cabrera said that he had gotten plenty of work at first base prior to LeMahieu’s injury. As someone who has played every position except for catcher in the majors, he makes it a point to stay ready for anything.
As far as preferences go, he doesn’t have any. If he’s in the lineup, he doesn’t care where he’s playing — or whose mitt he’s using.
“I just love to play,” Cabrera said. “So that’s the reason why I really enjoy all the positions and the position that I play that day.”
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