Colombian-born baseball player Orlando Cabrera will make his debut as second baseman for the Cleveland Indians Friday afternoon, international media reported.
Cabrera, 36, and with 14 seasons of experience in professional baseball, quelled rumors that he was poised to retire this past February when he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Indians.
The Cartagena native will kick off his season with the Indians on Friday, April 1, at 3:05 PM EST.
Cabrera, known by fans as “O.C.” or “O-Cab,” has experienced a long and successful career, acting as a key player in the 2004 Boston Red Sox World Series victory, and helping carry the Anaheim Angels, Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins to the playoffs earlier in his career.
This will be only the second time for O-Cab at second base — he also played the position for the Montreal Expos at the beginning of his career — as he has spent the majority of his time as a shortstop.
Cabrera, with a career batting average of .274, faces the challenge of reaching 2,000 hits this season, which could well be his last in the Major Leagues.