Panama’s José Caballero Begins Season as the Yankees’ Shortstop

2026-03-22 - 13:53

José Caballero will begin the season as the New York Yankees’ regular shortstop, after arriving from the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31, 2025. The 29-year-old Panamanian is excited and ready to take on the challenge at the six position. “I’m thrilled, grateful to God for this wonderful opportunity. I’m very happy and ready to show what I’m capable of,” Caballero told ESPN Digital ahead of an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday. Caballero arrives at a time when the Yankees needed stability at shortstop, after Anthony Volpe had a difficult season and underwent surgery on his left shoulder, sidelining him until May. In his brief stint in New York, Caballero batted .266 with 15 stolen bases in 40 games, and led the majors with 49 stolen bases during the combined season with Tampa Bay. The Panamanian made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2023 and has already made a good impression on his teammates and team leaders, highlighting Aaron Judge’s influence on team cohesion. “It’s easy when you have a group like ours, guys who look out for the benefit of the whole team,” Caballero commented. In Saturday’s game, Caballero started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 with a walk in the 3-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, showing he’s ready for the challenge. His goal, he says, is clear: “The goal is to win the World Series, and we’re going to pursue the title with the players we have.”