MESA, Ariz. — Edward Cabrera made an immediate impact in his initial spring outing for the Chicago Cubs, displaying remarkable poise and skill that emphasized why the team acquired him last offseason. In a thrilling 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, the 27-year-old right-hander delivered two flawless innings while striking out half of the batters he faced, signaling a promising start to his Cubs debut.
Cabrera’s focus during this outing was on maintaining control within the strike zone, a priority shaped by his past struggles with walks throughout his five seasons with the Miami Marlins. The combination of his elite pitching attributes and velocity shows clear potential, provided he limits free passes moving forward.
Pitching Strategy and Use of Four-Seam Fastball
A key focus for Cabrera this season will be refining the usage of his four-seam fastball. After heavily relying on the pitch in 2024, when it composed nearly 28% of his repertoire, he shifted to throwing it just 13% of the time last season. Despite this reduction, opposing hitters managed to slug six home runs against the pitch with a high slugging percentage, urging Cabrera to better locate the fastball to reduce damage.
In Friday’s game against the Guardians, Cabrera threw his four-seamer 10 times out of 31 pitches, generating two swings and misses, including a strikeout to end the first inning against Rhys Hoskins. His intent to increase the pitch’s effectiveness was clear.
“That’s one thing that I want to do, I want to throw it more,”
Cabrera said through an interpreter.
If I want to throw it outside, throw it outside. That’s what every pitcher strives for.
Seamless Transition and Team Support for Cabrera
The Cubs organization has taken care to ease Cabrera’s transition to a new team by preserving key elements of his established routine. Traditionally, during his tenure with the Marlins—after signing as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2015—he often threw an additional live batting practice prior to games. The Cubs chose not to alter this method, delaying his first start in the Cactus League to the second week of spring exhibition games.
The team has refrained from overhauling his pitching style or altering his core mechanics, focusing instead on helping him adjust healthily and comfortably.
“I don’t think there’s a big change that we think is needs to happen here, that’s not what the trade was about, like a big (development opportunity) here, don’t think that’s necessarily what this was about,”
manager Craig Counsell explained.
“We just think this is a talented pitcher coming into the right part of his career. And the health part of this is a real thing that we have to get right to the best of our ability, and then there’s some stuff that we can’t control. That’s how he’s going to be a really good pitcher.”
Cubs’ Rotation Depth and Cabrera’s Role
Cabrera joins a robust Cubs starting rotation that combines experience and potential, which may ease some of the performance pressure on the young right-hander. The rotation includes seasoned veterans Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon, who collectively have over 400 major league starts, alongside motivated pitchers Shota Imanaga, 2023 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up Cade Horton, and the anticipated early-season return of Justin Steele.
While Cabrera’s talent is a valuable asset, he is not expected to serve as the staff’s leading arm immediately. Instead, the strength generally lies in the collective performance of the Cubs’ starters, giving Cabrera space to develop without the intense burden of first-starter expectations.
“I think there’s something about that that somewhere along this journey will make it a little bit easier,”
Counsell said.
“But I can tell you that he has very high expectations of himself, and that probably doesn’t matter how everybody else sees him, how they would rank him, or whatever you want to say. So that’s generally still what’s going to be the most important thing.”
Implications for Cubs’ Season and Future Outlook
Cabrera’s promising introduction to the Cubs signals a potential turning point in his career, especially if he can harness better control and maximize his pitch arsenal. His healthy integration into the team’s rotation could significantly bolster the Cubs’ pitching depth, providing stability and increased competitiveness for the 2025 season.
Maintaining his health and adapting to the team’s system will be critical. As the season progresses, the Cubs and their fans will closely monitor how Cabrera refines his four-seam fastball and manages his walk rates. With a talented supporting rotation, the pressure is partially shared, allowing Cabrera to progress at a sustainable pace while contributing meaningfully on the mound.
