Jake Cave

Jake Cave
Cave with the Minnesota Twins in 2019
Doosan Bears
Outfielder
Born: (1992-12-04) December 4, 1992 (age 32)
Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 19, 2018, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.236
Home runs45
Runs batted in176
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Andrew Jacob Cave (born December 4, 1992) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Doosan Bears of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, and Colorado Rockies. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 6th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2018.

Amateur career

Cave attended Hampton Christian High School in Hampton, Virginia. As a pitcher for the school's baseball team in his sophomore year, Cave had a 10–0 win–loss record and a 1.23 earned run average with 109 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched.[1] He also demonstrated his hitting ability winning the World Wooden Bat Association Under-16 national title. He committed to attend Louisiana State University on a college baseball scholarship.[2] Before his junior year, he transferred to Kecoughtan High School.[1] He also played basketball in high school.[3] In 2011, his senior year at Kecoughtan, he had a .609 batting average.[4] Cave was named the Peninsula District and Daily Press Player of the Year. He spent the summer after graduating from Kecoughtan playing for the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League.[5][6]

Professional career

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees selected Cave in the sixth round, with the 209th overall selection, of the 2011 MLB draft. He signed with the Yankees, receiving a $825,000 signing bonus.[5] He made his professional debut that season for the Gulf Coast Yankees. In his first game, he fractured his kneecap in a collision at home plate.[7] The injury caused him to miss the rest of the season as well as the entire 2012 season.

In 2013, Cave played 113 games for the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single–A South Atlantic League. He finished the year hitting .282/.347/.401 with two home runs and 31 RBI. Cave started the 2014 season with the Tampa Yankees of the High–A Florida State League.[8] After hitting .304/.354/.395 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 90 games with Tampa, he was promoted to the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League in July,[9][10] where he finished the season batting .273 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 42 games.

Cave spent most of the 2015 season in Trenton, where he hit .269/.330/.345 in 125 games and was a Mid-Season All-Star.[11] He was promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple–A International League for the last week of the season.[12] He was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2015 Rule 5 draft.[13] Cave did not make the Reds' Opening Day roster, and he was returned to the Yankees on April 5, 2016.[14] He started the season back in Trenton but was promoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in May.[15] In the month of July, he led the league in batting average, hits, runs scored, and total bases to win International League Player of the Month.[16] He hit .268/.331/.427 with eight home runs and 56 RBI between both levels that year.

In 2017, he returned to both the Thunder and RailRiders, batting a combined .305 with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs.[17] The Yankees added Cave to their 40-man roster after the season.[18] He was designated for assignment on March 12, 2018, following the Yankees signing of Neil Walker.[19]

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins acquired Cave on March 16, 2018, for minor league pitcher Luis Gil.[20][21] He began the season with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League, and was called up to the majors on May 19.[22] He started in center field for the Twins that day and got his first major league hit, a two-run home run.[23] After three games with the big league club, Cave was optioned back to Triple-A but returned June 9.[24][25] He was again sent down on June 14 before returning on June 26.[26][27] On the season, Cave hit .265/.313/.473 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI in 91 games. He led all Major League Baseball hitters in average distance per home run, at 421 feet.[28]

Cave made the Twins opening day roster as a fourth outfielder.[29] On the season, Cave hit .258 with eight home runs and 25 RBI.[30] He was added to the playoff roster for the 2019 postseason.[31] In 2020, Cave hit .221 with four home runs and 15 RBI during the COVID-19 shortened season.[32]

On May 15, 2021, Cave was placed on the 60-day injured list after suffering a fracture in his back.[33] Cave was activated off of the injured list on July 24.[34] On November 25, 2021, the Twins outrighted Cave to the St. Paul Saints.[35] He was invited to spring training before the 2022 season.[36] Cave had his contract selected on August 1, 2022.[37]

Philadelphia Phillies

The Baltimore Orioles claimed Cave off of waivers on October 12, 2022.[38] On November 4, the Orioles and Cave agreed to a split contract to avoid salary arbitration for the 2023 season.[39]

The Philadelphia Phillies claimed Cave off waivers from the Orioles on December 2.[40] Cave made the Phillies' Opening Day roster in 2023.[41] He was optioned to Triple-A on May 2 when Bryce Harper returned from Tommy John surgery.[42] After hitting .400/.500/.798 during a 21-game hit streak, Cave was named International League Player of the Week for the month of May.[43] He was recalled to the majors on July 21[44] and remained on the roster through the rest of the season and postseason.[45][46][47] In 65 games for Philadelphia, Cave batted .212/.272/.348 with five home runs and 21 RBI. After the season, he re-signed with the Phillies.[48]

Colorado Rockies

On March 24, 2024, four days before the first regular season game, the Phillies traded Cave to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations.[49] He played in a career–high 123 games for Colorado, slashing .251/.290/.396 with seven home runs and 37 RBI. On October 18, Cave was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes, but rejected the assignment and elected free agency.[50]

Doosan Bears

On November 26, 2024, Cave signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Doosan Bears of the KBO League.[51]

Personal life

Cave's father, Bryan, played baseball at Kecoughtan and became the head coach of The Apprentice School. Both of Cave's sisters played softball and were named All-District.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Krider, Dave. "Cave transferring to Kecoughtan". Max Preps. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Jake Cave commits to LSU". Daily Press. July 22, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Jake Cave transferring to Kecoughtan from Hampton Christian". Daily Press. February 27, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Former Kecoughtan baseball star Jake Cave excelling with Yankees farm team". Daily Press. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "It's official: Former Red Sox fan Jake Cave signs with Yankees for $825K". Daily Press. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Peninsula Pilots: Jake Cave enjoying time with Pilots while he awaits the Yankees". Daily Press. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  7. ^ "On the shelf for now, Jake Cave is eager to get back on the diamond". Daily Press. May 19, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "Jake Cave is in a hitter's zone with the Tampa Yankees". Daily Press. June 27, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "Thunder call-up Jake Cave adds versatility to lineup". The Trentonian. July 24, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "Yankees promote Jake Cave from Single-A Tampa to Double-A Trenton". The Virginian-Pilot. July 17, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "2015 Eastern League All-Star Game Rosters Announced". OurSports Central. July 1, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  12. ^ "Former Kecoughtan/Hampton Christian star Jake Cave gets call to New York Yankees' Triple-A team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre". Daily Press. September 1, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  13. ^ Yanchulis, Kate (December 10, 2015). "Former Kecoughtan/Hampton Christian baseball player Cave selected in MLB Rule 5 draft". Daily Press. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  14. ^ "Yankees reacquire former Kecoughtan star Cave from Reds after his Rule 5 audition with Cincinnati". The Virginian-Pilot. April 5, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  15. ^ "Jake Cave promoted to Triple-A; Thunder drop series finale to Altoona". Trentonian. May 11, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  16. ^ "MiLB announces July Players of the Month". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Jake Cave Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "Hampton native Jake Cave added to New York Yankees 40-man roster". Daily Press. November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  19. ^ Steve Adams (March 12, 2018). "Yankees Designate Jake Cave For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  20. ^ "NY Yankees trade Jake Cave to Minnesota Twins for pitcher Luis Gil". March 18, 2018. NorthJersey.com. March 16, 2018.
  21. ^ Butherus, J. Scott (March 17, 2018). "Cave's all-around skills a boon to Twins". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  22. ^ O'Brien, Marty (May 19, 2018). "Hampton native Jake Cave called up to play for Minnesota Twins". Daily Press. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "Brewers 5-4 Twins (May 19, 2018) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  24. ^ Varda, Maija (May 24, 2018). "Twins activate Miguel Sano, option Jake Cave". Twinkie Town. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  25. ^ Hall, Brian (June 11, 2018). "Triple-A call-up Jake Cave homers as Twins beat Angels". Twin Cities. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  26. ^ "Twins option Sanó to Single-A Ft. Myers and Cave to Triple-A Rochester". MLB.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  27. ^ "Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  28. ^ Schoenfield, David (November 3, 2018). "Why Mookie Betts is the perfect player, and other fun stats". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  29. ^ "Twins' 25-man roster officially set". MLB.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  30. ^ "Jake Cave 2019 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  31. ^ "Twins announce ALDS roster". Twinkie Town. October 4, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  32. ^ "Jake Cave 2020 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  33. ^ Byrne, Connor (May 15, 2021). "Twins To Place Jake Cave On 60-Day IL, Select Rob Refsnyder". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  34. ^ "Major League Baseball Transactions (July 2021)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  35. ^ Stohs, Seth (November 30, 2021). "Twins Claim Trevor Megill, Outright Jake Cave". Twins Daily. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  36. ^ "Twins announce 2022 Spring Training invites". MLB.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  37. ^ "Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  38. ^ "Baltimore Orioles claim outfielder Jake Cave, 29, off waivers," The Associated Press (AP), Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  39. ^ "Orioles, Jake Cave avoid arbitration". yardbarker.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  40. ^ "Phillies Claim Jake Cave off Waivers from Orioles".
  41. ^ "'A good day' as Guthrie, Cave make Phils' OD roster". MLB.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  42. ^ "Phillies Reinstate Bryce Harper". MLB Trade Rumors. May 2, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  43. ^ "Jake Cave Named International League Player of the Month for May". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  44. ^ "PHILLIES ANNOUNCE ROSTER MOVES". MLB.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  45. ^ "Lorenzen not on NL Wild Card roster as Phils opt for extra RH bat". MLB.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  46. ^ "Phillies finalize National League Division Series roster". MLB.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  47. ^ "Phillies finalize National League Championship Series roster". MLB.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  48. ^ "Phillies non-tender 1 player, agree to contracts with 3". NBC Sports Philadelphia. November 18, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  49. ^ "Phillies give Matt Strahm extension, trade Jake Cave to Rockies". ESPN.com. March 24, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  50. ^ McDonald, Darragh (October 18, 2024). "Jake Cave, Peter Lambert, Dakota Hudson Elect Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  51. ^ Jee-ho, Yoo (November 26, 2024). "Bears sign ex-MLB outfielder Jake Cave". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved November 26, 2024.