Jose Caballero -- Prospect Evaluation

José Caballero is a utility infielder who signed with the Arizona organization for $175,000 and progressed through their minor league system from 2017-2019. Standing 5-10, 190 pounds and batting/throwing right, Caballero primarily plays shortstop but has demonstrated versatility across second base, third base, and outfield positions throughout his career. His college performance at Chipola Junior College was exceptional, particularly in 2017 when he posted a .401 batting average with 15 home runs, 37 extra-base hits, and a 1.236 OPS across 58 games. His professional minor league statistics show consistency across multiple levels, with batting averages ranging from .290-.319 at Short-A and Single-A levels between 2017-2019, though power production remained modest. Caballero made his MLB debut and has accumulated 2.170 years of service time through 2025. He is currently on the New York Yankees active roster under a 2026 contract worth $2 million, and represented Panama in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Jose Caballero is a shortstop from Panama City, Panama, profiled on Perfect Game USA's scouting database. He is a 2016 graduate standing 5-10 and weighing 180 pounds, with a right-handed batting and throwing stance. Caballero attended Redondo Union High School and played for the So Cal Marlins travel team. He was selected in Round 7 of the 2017 MLB Draft and subsequently made his major league debut on April 15, 2023. At the time of this profile, he was listed as uncommitted with no Perfect Game Grade assigned.

The Yankees optioned Anthony Volpe to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and named José Caballero as the everyday shortstop. A National League scout characterized this as a sound baseball decision. Caballero has performed well over his past 16 games, batting .333 with 3 home runs and posting +3 outs above average defensively. Volpe, by contrast, had a difficult 2025 season with a .212 batting average and -6 outs above average defensively after posting 19 homers. The scout advised allowing Volpe three to four weeks in the minors to demonstrate he is ready for major league competition, noting there is no need to rush his return. The scout also suggested that other talent evaluators may monitor Volpe's minor league performance and express trade interest, as he could become a valuable asset for the Yankees to acquire pitching. Caballero acknowledged that focusing on a single defensive position has benefited his development, allowing him to concentrate on improvement at shortstop rather than rotating through multiple positions as he did previously.