As Oswaldo Cabrera walked into the Yankees clubhouse Sunday morning, he could be seen hitting a baseball in a faded black first baseman’s coat.
Cabrera was preparing for his third start of the season at first, but not with his glove. The do-it-all utility owns a first-base coat, but prefers DJ LeMahieu.
“It’s ready to go,” Cabrera said of his own glove, “but I trust it more.”
LeMahieu did more than just lend leather, though. Cabrera told the Daily News that his injured teammate and another veteran first baseman and Gold Glover, Anthony Rizzo, gave him tips at the position.
“All the time, we talk here, and they give me some advice that I can use,” said Cabrera’s de facto backup first baseman the Yankees with LeMahieu sidelined by a hip impingement. “Nothing super, super crazy or anything. It’s like things that can happen in the game.
“That means a lot, especially for a guy who doesn’t play first base very often.”
Cabrera has logged just 49.2 innings at first in his three-year career. However, he has yet to make an error here, and he looked solid on Sunday.
Cabrera showed his flexibility in the Yankees’ 5-2 win over the Red Sox, stretching out for several pitches. That included a reach for an Anthony Volpe pitch bouncing out of the hole and an extension on an ending double play. Boston speedster Jarren Duran ran on the last play.
“I love Oswaldo with a glove,” Aaron Boone said before the game, while also noting that Cabrera has been hitting well lately. “So wherever I put him, he prepares really well. When he’s not playing, he puts his work in the different places in the infield positions. He’s always hitting to make sure he’s looking off the bat from the outfield. So Oswaldo is that perfect utility guy that you feel good about where you put him.”
Cabrera said he had plenty of work at first base before LeMahieu’s injury. As someone who has played every position except catcher in the majors, he makes it a point to be ready for anything.
In terms of preferences, he has none. If he’s in the lineup, it doesn’t matter where he plays — or what mitt he wears.
“I just love to play,” Cabrera said. “So that’s why I really like every position and the position I play that day.”