The legend of José Caballero continues to grow

The Mariners have struggled to find answers to the second base hole for much of the past two seasons. However, an unlikely hero has emerged, giving the team much needed stability at the position.

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

“Jose Caballero is an impact player on this roster. His on-field awareness is just off the charts good. He is a guy who will find a way to make an impact on the game.”

These words came from Seattle President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto on 710 Seattle Sports on Thursday afternoon following the series against the Marlins. Caballero has truly come out of nowhere for the Mariners, saving the team from mediocrity at one of the most important positions on the field. 

The moment I knew the Mariners had something in Caballero was his double against Astros’ reliever Ryne Stanek. In a 1-0 count against one of the best relievers in baseball, the 5-9 second baseman stood tall, delivering a rocket double into the gap. on a 99 MPH fastball to score two Mariners and give the club a 5-3 victory. 

Nothing seems to phase him. Other teams seem to despise him despite the way he plays the game. A fierce competitor, “Cabbie” is a master of the pitch clock, extending at-bats, and getting hit by pitches. The Panama native is running a .407 OBP on the season, the highest of the regular members of Seattle’s lineup. 

He doesn’t just rank well amongst his teammates. The only second baseman who has as many PAs as José Caballero and a higher OBP, wRC+, and fWAR is Luis Arráez, who is chasing a .400 batting average with the Miami Marlins. 

Caballero ranks second in fWAR among all American League second basemen, an incredible accomplishment for a player that wasn’t on the Opening Day roster. Watching him down in Peoria my only real thoughts on the career minor leaguer were that he could play a solid shortstop and that he could run. At one point he held 80-grade speed and was regarded as a tremendous baserunner in the minor leagues. 

Acquired in the Mike Leake deal with the Diamondbacks, the second baseman has never been regarded as a thumper. His strength is similar to J.P. Crawford’s, pitch selection and a certain annoyance he gives to a pitcher attempting to execute his plan. 

His 129 wRC+ is buoyed by a tremendous 14.3% BB rate and very little power or average thus far, making his offensive production uncertain. One thing is for sure, his defense and ability to provide competitive at-bats aren’t going anywhere. 

Caballero ranks in the 93rd percentile in Outs Above Average on Baseball Savant. He was a shortstop for most of his minor league career, and the range is evident at second base.

His scrappiness has fit right in on the Mariners roster, and his production has filled the gaping hole left by years of talent misjudgment. 

His story is one of the best things about baseball, a player that knows the interworkings of the game so well that it acts as a sixth tool. It doesn’t take a baseball lifer to notice all the little quirks he does, many of them help the team win without showing up in the stat sheet. 

Seattle’s struggles at the position could have been catastrophic, especially with Dylan Moore’s absence from the roster for most of the season. An unlikely hero has emerged, a Panamanian second baseman who arrived in a trade few remember. José Caballero has been a revelation for Seattle this season.