The New York Yankees kicked off their three-game series at T-Mobile Park with a commanding 11-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, but the win came with a heavy price. In the ninth inning, third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera suffered a serious lower-body injury while trying to score on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Judge. The 26-year-old slid into home, scoring the Yankees’ 11th run, but immediately went down in pain, clutching his left leg. It was a gut-wrenching moment—Cabrera grimaced as medical staff rushed to his side, and he was eventually carted off the field in an ambulance.
Even in the midst of that pain, Cabrera showed the kind of heart that makes him a fan favorite. As he was being taken off, he called over Aaron Judge and asked, “Hey, did I score?” Judge shared the moment with reporters after the game, saying it summed up who Cabrera is. “Something like that happens, and the one thing on his mind through all the pain is, ‘Did I score?’” Judge said. For the record, yes, Cabrera did score, putting the final touch on the Yankees’ big night. He also went 1-for-4 in the game with a walk, showing his steady presence before the injury cut his night short.
Judge didn’t hold back on his admiration for his teammate. “He cares for everybody in this room. He loves being a Yankee,” Judge said. “He wears his jersey with pride. This is a tough one, especially for a guy that’s grinded his whole life and finally got an opportunity to be our everyday guy and been excelling at it.” Cabrera’s journey to becoming the Yankees’ starting third baseman hasn’t been easy, but he’s made the most of his chance in 2025, hitting .243 with a homer and 11 RBIs through 34 games, as noted in the stats provided.
Now, with Cabrera likely sidelined for a while, the Yankees have to figure out who’s going to step up at the hot corner. Jazz Chisholm Jr. would’ve been a natural fit, but he’s currently on the disabled list with a strained oblique. That leaves DJ LeMahieu as a prime candidate to fill in. LeMahieu is set to be activated from the 10-day disabled list, originally slated to play second base, but manager Aaron Boone can easily slide him over to third to cover for Cabrera. LeMahieu’s versatility and experience make him a solid option to hold down the fort while Cabrera recovers.
This injury is a tough blow for the Yankees, but Cabrera’s selflessness in that moment—thinking about the team even as he was being carted off—shows why he’s so valued in that clubhouse. For Yankees fans, it’s a reminder of the grit this team plays with, and they’ll be hoping Cabrera can get back on the field soon, swinging that bat and locking down third base like the everyday guy he’s worked so hard to become.
