There are moments in an athlete's career that feel like a turning point, a subtle shift where potential begins to solidify into performance. For Edward Cabrera, the Dominican pitcher for the Miami Marlins, May seems to be that moment, a month where he's inching closer to the dominant pitcher the baseball world once envisioned.
Just recently, Cabrera delivered a masterful performance against the Angels, striking out a season-high 10 batters over 5.2 innings. It wasn't just the sheer number of strikeouts, but the way he commanded the game, leading the Marlins to a crucial 3-0 victory – their first road series win of the year. This win marked Cabrera's first of 2025, and it’s part of a larger trend this month. In four starts throughout May, he's posted a 2.53 ERA, allowing just six earned runs over 20.1 innings, all while fanning 23 batters and walking only five. More importantly, the Marlins have won three consecutive games he's started.
"I think I'm getting closer to being what I want to be: Edward Cabrera," the 27-year-old right-hander shared after the game. It's a sentiment that resonates, especially when you consider his outing. He didn't allow a single run, a feat not achieved since September of last year. This was also his fourth career start with 10 or more strikeouts, with his curveball proving particularly effective, generating 11 swings and misses – the most for a Marlins pitcher since José Fernández back in 2016.
Everything seemed to click for Cabrera on Sunday. He allowed only three hits and kept the potent Angels lineup in check, with only one runner reaching scoring position in the first five innings. Even the opposing manager, Ron Washington, acknowledged Cabrera's brilliance: "The biggest part was Cabrera. I mean, he was really good today. He could locate his fastball, and he had a good breaking ball. The pitch was coming in fast and it was really hard to recognize, and he made us swing and miss out of the zone. So we couldn't do anything today."
Cabrera's repertoire has never been in question; it's often been his command that's presented challenges. But things appear to be falling into place. He attributes some of his success in racking up strikeouts and being effective to an aggressive approach in the strike zone. On Sunday, he threw 16 of his first 21 pitches for strikes (76.2%), his best mark since late September 2024. His catcher, Agustín Ramírez, noted, "It's really good to see a pitcher focused like that. Something I really liked was the fact that he never said no to anything I asked him for during the game."
If Cabrera can sustain this level of performance, it sets up an intriguing dynamic for the Marlins' rotation. With Eury Pérez expected to return from Tommy John surgery in a couple of weeks, the team already boasts a solid group including Sandy Alcántara, Cal Quantrill, Max Meyer, and Ryan Weathers. Meyer has shown promise, Quantrill has been steady, and Weathers has impressed in his recent starts. Alcántara is still finding his footing. For Cabrera to consistently show this version of himself would be a significant step forward.
Manager Clayton McCullough echoed this sentiment, suggesting, "You get to a point in your career where you know how talented you are, and you just get to the point where it's time to reach another gear. We all feel that maybe the only thing that was holding Cabrera back from being the version we've seen recently is simply the consistency in throwing strikes."
Maintaining that consistency, a hurdle that has proven difficult in the past, is the next challenge. Cabrera himself understands this, stating, "As you know, this is a sport that has a lot to do with repetitions of the mental game, of course, so I have to stay mentally strong." It's a journey of refinement, and if May is any indication, Edward Cabrera is on the right track.
