JOSE CABALLERO
Nickname:   N/A Position:   2B-3B-SS
Home: N/A Team:   RAYS
Height: 5' 10" Bats:   R
Weight: 185 Throws:   R
DOB: 8/30/1996 Agent: N/A
Uniform #: 77  
Birth City: Panama City, Panama
Draft: D'Backs #7 - 2017 - Out of Chipola JUCO (FL)
YR LEA TEAM SAL(K) G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO OBP SLG AVG
2017 PIO MISSOULA   36 135 20 43 8 3 2 15 4 0 8 27 .377 .467 .319
2018 NWL HILLSBORO   37 138 24 40 5 2 5 24 12 3 14 20 .367 .464 .290
2018 MWL KANE COUNTY   33 129 23 38 7 2 4 16 5 5 16 16 .389 .473 .295
2019 CAL MODESTO   23 90 16 23 5 1 0 10 4 5 12 15 .339 .333 .256
2019 AZL PEORIA   3 11 5 5 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 .500 .636 .455
2019 CAL VISALIA   43 164 36 44 12 0 3 12 28 7 24 40 .388 .396 .268
2021 DAC ARKANSAS   8 20 3 4 1 0 1 3 2 1 7 4 .393 .400 .200
2021 HAW EVERETT   4 17 7 5 2 0 0 3 8 1 3 4 .429 .412 .294
2022 TL ARKANSAS   31 97 20 22 4 0 2 13 15 2 35 22 .440 .330 .227
2022 AZL ACL   37 113 23 33 3 0 0 10 9 1 19 22 .404 .319 .292
2023 AL MARINERS   104 231 37 51 9 1 4 26 26 3 28 66 .343 .320 .221
2024 AL RAYS   139 441 53 100 24 1 9 44 44 16 27 133 .283 .347 .227
2025 AL RAYS   62 170 26 39 11 1 2 21 28 6 23 60 .327 .341 .229
Today's Game Notes
  •  June 17, 2025: There are plenty of things that make José Caballero one of the game’s biggest threats on the basepaths. He runs fast and accelerates quickly. He studies opposing pitchers and catchers before games. He picks up on moves and tendencies that might allow him to get a better jump. And there’s one other trait that might be more important than all that.

    “The first thing is,” first-base coach Michael Johns said, “he's fearless.”

    That is the mindset Caballero carries with him whenever he’s on base, whether he got there himself or was sent into the game as a pinch-runner. He is there to score, and to accomplish that, he needs to do whatever it takes to advance 90 feet.

    That fearless mentality allowed Caballero to lead the American League with 44 stolen bases last season. It has him back atop the AL leaderboard this year, as his 25 steals are tied with Oneil Cruz for the Major League lead.

    He knows what he’s there to do. The other team understands, too. But why should that stop him?

    “They all know that I'm there to run and that I will run. I'm not scared of them. They should be scared of me,” Caballero said recently. “That's pretty much it.”

    None of this comes from a selfish place. In fact, it’s just the opposite. On the bases, Caballero adopts the same perspective that’s led him to play six different positions for Tampa Bay this season.

    “To be honest, I'm just trying to help the team,” Caballero said. “That’s the only mentality I have. Besides that, I’m just trying to get in the pitcher’s head. It’s been so many close games for us, and sometimes I think we need to get the pitcher to think about something else instead of just throwing strikes and getting us out. (A Berry - MLB.com - June 17, 2025)
     
Personal

  • Caballero is a native of Panama.

  • Seven weeks removed from a heavenly moment, Jose Caballero still hasn't come down to earth.

    The Missoula Osprey shortstop was the catalyst for a Chipola College baseball team that captured the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I title in Grand Junction, Colorado. To top it all off, fans of the Florida team chanted his name when he was recognized as tournament MVP. 

    "We're still proud about it and I'm still happy about it because there's not a lot of people that can say they're national champion," said Caballero, whose Osprey dropped a 4-3 decision to the Ogden Raptors Saturday at Ogren-Allegiance Park.

    Caballero hit .448 in the NCJAA World Series with five home runs and 16 RBIs in seven games. Now the 7th round draft pick is putting up impressive numbers for the first-place Osprey, hitting .342 with a team-best .579 slugging percentage in his first 10 games.

    Caballero is no slouch with the glove, either. He made a critical play for Chipola in the national chipper, diving to stop a ball hit up the middle and prevent San Jacinto-North from scoring multiple runs.

    He knows all about the internet chatter indicating he may be moved to second base. His versatility, along with his speed and power, make him an intriguing prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization.

    "I don't really care because last year I played all season long shortstop, this year I played all season long second base," he said of his college career. "If they want to move me to second, I'm good with it. Keep me at shortstop I'm good with it, even third base. I don't really care. I like to be in the lineup."

    Caballero said that being selected by Arizona in the MLB Draft was as exciting as being picked in the seventh round. "I was so proud because (Diamondbacks pitcher) Randall Delgado is from my country (Panama)," he said. "And I'm happy to be in Missoula. I feel like the weather is better than Florida because it's not so humid.

    "It's comfortable and the fans come every day to support the players, and I like that a lot."  (Bill Speltz - 406mtsports - Jul 22, 2017)

  • June 2017: The D'Backs chose Caballero in the 7th round, out of Chipola Jr. College in Florida. He signed with scout Luke Wrenn.

  • Jose committed to play for Panama in the 2023 WBC.

  •  2023 Season: The Seattle Mariners acquired Jose Caballero from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline in 2019 for Mike Leake. Cabellero made his debut for the Mariners on April 19 of the 2023 season and played in 104 games for the Mariners this season.

    Jose Cabellero was not expected to be a contributor for the Mariners when Jerry Dipoto was building this team last offseason. But with a strong showing in spring training and and a good start with Tacoma he played his way onto the 26-man roster when Sam Haggerty was banged up.

    Caballero played that utility role that the Mariners love so much. He spent time at second base, shortstop, third base, and even played left field for the Mariners this season. Caballero's first half of the season was great for a rookie. He had a slash line of .233/.361/.343. In the first half he had 3 home runs, 21 runs scored, 20 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.

    Caballero's second half was a different story. With the addition of Rojas and the return of Moore, he didn't get as much playing time. His slash line for the second half was .200/.310/.282, with 1 homerun, 16 runs, 6 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. He cooled off immensely in the second half.

    I gave Caballero a B+ because, for a rookie who wasn't even expected to be on the team in 2023, he did some good things. As a rookie, he produced a 2.4 WAR season. He had an above-average walk rate of 10%, he caused chaos for other pitchers with the pitch clock and stole 26 out of 29 bases. He also was able to be that utility player that the Mariners like. I am excited to see if he can build on 2023 in 2024. (Ryne Degroot | Oct 28, 2023)

    TRANSACTIONS

  • June 2017: The D'Backs chose Caballero in the 7th round, out of Chipola Jr. College in Florida. He signed with scout Luke Wrenn.

  • July 31, 2019: The Mariners traded RHP Mike Leake and cash to the Diamondbacks for INF Jose Caballero.

  • Jan. 6, 2024: The Rays traded outfielder Luke Raley to the Mariners for infielder Jose Caballero.
Batting
  • Caballero has an impressive hit tool - a pure 60 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. And he has fringe-average power.
Running

  • Sept 29, 2024: José Caballero (TB), 44 Stolen Bases

    This marks the fifth time that a Rays player has outright led or tied for the American League lead in steals since their first season in 1998. Carl Crawford was the outright leader from 2003-04 and in 2006; and he tied Brian Roberts (Orioles) for the AL lead in 2007. Caballero did so in his first year with the Rays. (Editor's note: Caballero wound up leading the league for the 2024 season, with 44 steals.)

Career Injury Report

  • May 31, 2019: Caballero was on the DL.

  • April 22- June 1, 2022: Jose was on the IL.

  • June 14-Aug. 25, 2022: Jose was back on the IL.