Jose Caballero Gives Rays Plenty Of Options In Lineup, Field

It is unlikely Jose Caballero will appear at all nine positions in a single game as Bert Campaneris did for the Kansas City A’s in 1965. The Rays’ all-purpose player, though, has twice played three positions this season. In both instances, at San Diego on April 26 and versus Philadelphia on May 8, one of the positions was right field, which has been a new spot for him this season.

An exceptional infielder, Caballero started 83 games at short, 20 at third and 20 at second for the Rays in 2024. He has added all three outfield spots to his resume this year, has played six positions and started at five. His performance at times has been of the highlight-reel variety, including robbing the Yankees’ Ben Rice of a home run in April. Playing at short the following day, Caballero effectively hiked the baseball to Brandon Lowe in turning a 6-4-3.

“I am trying to be in the lineup and help the team win in any way possible,” said the 28-year-old Caballero, noting the primary adjustment he has had to make in the outfield is tracking a ball in the air versus on the ground.

Drafted by the Diamondbacks in the seventh round in 2017 out of Chipola College in the Florida Panhandle, Caballero played left field a handful of times in the Arizona Fall League in 2019 when he was in the Seattle system, and a couple of innings at the position with the Mariners during his rookie season of 2023. It wasn’t until spring training this year that Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash turned to Caballero to become at least somewhat of a familiar face in the outfield.

Having signed shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who is nearing a return from a shoulder injury that prematurely ended his 2024 season and required surgery, and with Taylor Walls able to superbly play multiple infield spots, Caballero was a prime candidate to spend time in the outfield.

“We got him reps in outfield during spring training because of how valuable he can be,” said Cash, whose team defeated the Twins on Monday evening for its sixth straight win. “It’s pretty remarkable how a guy that doesn’t have many reps in the outfield has really grown to look very comfortable out there. He’s getting good jumps, good reads on the ball, his arm strength is well above average. He plays defense with a lot of confidence.”

Disruptive force

Caballero also has a lot of confidence on the base paths. A native of Panama who arrived at Chipola in the fall of 2015 not knowing a word of English – “It was kind of hard for me to understand the coaches and my teammates. I made the effort to learn and understand what they were saying.” — was joking with reporters prior to the start of the past weekend’s three-game series against the Blue Jays that he has yet to receive a gift from MLB for leading the junior circuit in stolen bases last season. The 5-foot-11 and 190-pounder swiped 44 bags to edge Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez, who had 41. It was a nice accomplishment, for sure, but Caballero was not overly impressed because he fell short of his goal.

“I set my goals and if I reach them, then I am happy with that,” he said. “If I lead the American League, it’s great. But I am trying to be the best version of myself and I wasn’t too happy with myself because I did not reach my goal.”

That goal?

“The goal is 50,” he said. “I have to reach 50. We will see.”

Caballero heads into play Tuesday third in the AL with 15 steals. What has stood out about his offensive performance this season is that he is getting on base at a much better rate than 2024, his first season with the Rays after being acquired from Seattle for outfielder Luke Raley.

Like all good base stealers, Caballero’s presence on the basepaths can be unsettling for pitchers and the defense.

“Obviously, I want to (steal a base), but if I can’t I still want (the pitcher) to be thinking about me instead of the hitter,” he said. “Even if I don’t get the steal, I feel like we can steal a win because pitchers are focusing on something besides the hitter.”

Caballero has shown much improvement at the plate this season and with his name appearing in six different spots in the lineup – second and fifth through ninth.

“I guess everybody wants to be in the top of the lineup,” said Caballero, who started at least one game in seven different spots in the order last season and even had an at-bat in the cleanup spot after entering a game late. “I am trying to do the little things to help the team. That is pretty much how I see it.”

Through Monday evening’s victory at Steinbrenner Field, he was hitting .242 with 14 walks and a .319 OBP in 135 plate appearances. In 2024, those numbers were .227/27/.283 OBP in 483 plate appearances.

“Trying to be more selective, trying to get my pitch,” he said of his improvement with a bat in his hands. “I want to control the zone and try to get on base, which is a key part of my game because of my speed and how much pressure I put on the pitchers.”