Dodgers Cut Ties With Young Pitcher After Sudden Downward Turn

Young pitcher Jose Cabrera faces a pivotal moment in his baseball career as the Dodgers cut ties following a turbulent tenure in their minor league system.

The Dodgers have moved on from Jose Cabrera, officially releasing the 21-year-old right-hander from the organization after a brutal run in Single-A.

According to the team’s transaction log on MiLB.com, Cabrera was released by the Ontario Tower Buzzers, Los Angeles’ Single-A affiliate. The decision comes after a season that unraveled quickly at the lower levels of the minors.

Cabrera originally signed with the Dodgers as a 19-year-old international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in December 2023. He spent the 2024 season in the Dominican Summer League, where he worked mostly out of the bullpen and showed some promise despite uneven results.

In 20 appearances, he went 6-0 with a 5.26 ERA across 25.2 innings, striking out 30 while walking 24. Opposing hitters managed only a .143 average against him.

His first stateside assignment came in 2025 with the Arizona Complex League, and that stretch looked like a step forward. Cabrera posted a 2.21 ERA in Rookie Ball, giving up six runs, five earned, over 20.1 innings. He struck out 27 and walked just eight, enough to earn a midseason promotion to Single-A.

That jump proved difficult. At the Single-A level in 2025, Cabrera allowed 16 runs in 14 innings for a 10.29 ERA. He still missed bats, finishing with 17 strikeouts, but he also issued 14 walks and opponents hit .339 against him.

Because of those struggles, Cabrera returned to Rookie Ball to open the 2026 season. He made four appearances for the ACL Dodgers and posted an 8.44 ERA, with 10 strikeouts and five walks over 5.1 innings.

Back in Single-A, things got even rougher. Cabrera appeared in 13 games for the Tower Buzzers this season and was tagged for 34 runs, 31 earned, in just 11.1 innings.

That worked out to a 24.62 ERA. He walked 25 batters, struck out 20, and finished with a 3.44 WHIP.

His final outing came on July 8, when he gave up seven runs, six earned, while walking five and recording only one out. Shortly after that, the Dodgers cut ties and allowed him to become a free agent.

At 21, Cabrera still has time to rebuild his stock and find another opportunity. For now, he’s searching for his next stop in baseball.

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