Daniel Cabrera plans to be back in the major leagues in the near future.
That is the mindset the 25-year-old right-hander displayed in the clubhouse two days after the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Ottawa.
Cabrera planned on reporting to the Lynx Sunday and spoke to the media for the first time since receiving word of the demotion.
“There?s nothing I can do about it,” Cabrera said. “I just have to work hard to get back here.”
Pitch location and consistency are the main issues the Orioles look for Cabrera to improve upon and hope having some success at the Triple-A level ? where he has never pitched before ? will do just that.
Cabrera is 4-7 with a 5.25ERA in 16 starts for the Orioles this season. He is also 0-5 with a 7.02 ERA in his last six starts. Through Sunday, he led the American League with 75 walks and 13 wild pitches and has averaged 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings. These statistics include his last start Thursday where he gave up four runs on six hits, while walking five and striking out two over 5.1 innings in a loss to the Texas Rangers.
Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said he is hopeful Cabrera will fix his control issues and fully realize his potential in Baltimore.
“It?s an initial shock to anybody who gets sent down,” said Perlozzo prior to Sunday?s game against the Rangers. “They need a day or two to get their head together and realize you?ve got a job to do to get back where you want to be.”
Cabrera said he plans on going to Ottawa and pitching well enough to force Baltimore to bring him back up to the majors much like left-hander Adam Loewen just did.
“He went down, worked hard and did his thing, and I?m going to do that too,” Cabrera said.
THE CABRERA FILE
Age: 25
Hometown: San Pedro do Macoris, Dominican Republic
Did you know? Cabrera is 26-28 with a 4.86 ERA in 73 games since joining the Orioles in May 2004 ? His last win came June 10 at the Minnesota Twins where he gave up no runs on five hits, walked six and struck out five over five innings.
