Cabrera on a heater as Spring Training winds down

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees utility man Oswaldo Cabrera launched a two-run homer in Saturday’s 6-6 tie with the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field, his second homer in six days. He’s hot, and he could be in Thursday’s Opening Day starting lineup in Houston if third baseman DJ LeMahieu’s bruised right foot needs a bit more time.

“I’m excited that the last two weeks, he’s really swinging the bat well,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “Just good at-bats. The first few weeks of camp, he was struggling offensively a little bit.

“And coming on the heels of last year, when it was a struggle for him offensively, getting some traction here over the last two weeks is nice. Because he’s really valuable defensively. He’s got a little bit of a presence with the bat [now] and can be very valuable. So that’s been nice to see.”

Cabrera, who batted .211 with five homers and 29 RBIs in 298 at-bats in 2023, was batting .043 on March 9. He got three hits in his next game, and he's batting .375 since.

“I’m just working, working, working -- all day on every aspect of hitting,” said Cabrera, 25. “I’m trying to get more consistency. I like where my swing’s at so much, and the progress off of all we’ve been doing since the off-season.

“I’m excited for what’s coming.”

Cabrera played 100 games in either left or right field last season, but he also had 15 games at third, and he played every position except catcher and pitcher. Cabrera works out at seven positions with four gloves: outfield, middle infield, third and first.

“I work with the same energy at every position,” Cabrera said. “It’s not easy. But at the same time, it’s fun for me. Every rep counts and is done for a purpose. I’m trying to get better and help the team win.”

Cabrera was all smiles while handing his baseball bag to a Yankees worker to be loaded for the team’s Saturday night flight to Mexico City for split-squad exhibition games Sunday and Monday against Diablos Rojos del México.

“I’m so excited” said Cabrera, a native of Guarenas, Venezuela. “I played in Mexico in 2014 for a Venezuelan team. Baseball means a lot for the people there, and so it will be fun. Representing the Yankees is even more fun.

“And there are a lot of Yankees fans in Mexico. They have to be so excited.”

Boone is taking three starters on the trip: catcher Jose Trevino, shortstop Anthony Volpe and outfielder/DH Giancarlo Stanton. Top pitchers traveling are Jonathan Loáisiga and Victor González of Tuxpan, Mexico.

Rodón, Poteet, Beeter pitching updates
It was a rough day for both Yankees starters in split-squad games.

Carlos Rodón, who threw 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball against the Phillies the last time he faced them Monday, allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk in four innings against them Saturday. He struck out two.

Rodón had allowed just five runs in his four previous starts and entered with a 2.93 ERA -- displaying improvement after going 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts with the Yankees in 2023.

“He’s in a good space physically,” Boone said of Rodón. “I thought even today, he threw the ball all right. A couple weird plays not going his way, but he got hit a little bit, too. But the biggest thing is, I think his stuff’s in a good place right now. … Pretty good spring, for the most part. He’s laid a nice foundation to be successful.”

Rodón said, “The competitor in me, I want to win, and I’m frustrated with the results today. Luckily, they don’t count. But now they will. The slider was a little off; it wasn’t great. I threw some better ones late, but I wished I would’ve found the slider earlier.”

Cody Poteet had also been impressive in four previous Grapefruit League outings, posting a 2.35 ERA with seven strikeouts and one walk in 7 2/3 innings. However, the Tigers roughed him up in Lakeland in Detroit’s 11-6 victory.

Poteet yielded two-run homers to Parker Meadows and Carson Kelly. He allowed eight runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.

Poteet is one of five candidates for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.

Clayton Beeter, another possibility for that role, had a good outing. He allowed one run on three hits over four innings, striking out four with two walks.