Just who is Asdrubal Cabrera anyway?
Most baseball fans have no idea. Heck, those in Cleveland didn't even know who Cabrera was before August 7, when he was called up to become the Indians' utility infielder.
A couple of weeks later, he was the starter at second base. And now he's playing a major role with a team on pace to make the playoffs.
A look at Cabrera and 14 other relatively anonymous players who will impact the pennant race in the 2007 season:
Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
MLB
Who is he?: A 22-year-old switch hitter from Venezuela in his first month in the majors.
The lowdown: Cabrera started the season at Double-A Akron and had never played in the majors. Now the 22-year-old infielder is a starting second baseman and the No. 2 hitter on the American League Central leaders. He's hitting .286 with two home runs and 10 RBI as of Sept. 1, and playing a solid second base. And he's been unflappable, too.
"A lot of that is his personality," Indians manager Eric Wedge told Jim Ingraham of The News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal. "He has a confident demeanor. He's comfortable playing the game."
Corey Hart, Brewers
MLB
Who is he?: He's not the guy who sang "Sunglasses At Night" in the 1980s (although the name is the same). He's one of the best young hitters in the National League.
The lowdown: The 6-foot-6, 25-year-old right fielder is hitting .286 with 18 home runs for Milwaukee in his first year as a full-time starter. With Hart, Prince Fielder and third baseman Ryan Braun, the Brewers' young bats are as good as any team in the majors.
Melky Cabrera, Yankees
MLB
Who is he?: A 23-year-old switch hitter from the Dominican Republic who stepped into Johnny Damon's role as the Yankees' center fielder.
The lowdown: Damon looks like he's lost a step, and to Bronx outsiders, it seemed like Cabrera was just keeping the spot warm until a suitable veteran was found, which is the typical Yankee way. But Cabrera has proved he belongs in the lineup every day, hitting .294 with 58 RBI through Sept. 1. He only has two errors in center field as well.
Brendan Ryan, Cardinals
MLB
Who is he?: Recalled from the minors on Aug. 12, the 25-year-old Ryan is filling in for Scott Rolen at third base for St. Louis and also playing some second base, sharing time with Aaron Miles.
The lowdown: Ryan's natural position is shortstop, where David Eckstein currently resides. Hitting .315 with four home runs in 111 at-bats, he's due to get a shot somewhere.
-Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
MLB
Who is he?: Hitting .321 through Sept. 1, the 24-year-old former Arizona State standout is the regular second baseman in Boston, and the native Californian fits in beautifully in a blue-collar town.
The lowdown: He started slowly, hitting .172 as of May 1, and was platooning with Alex Cora, but took control by hitting .415 in May. He might be 5-9, but he swings like a slugger. He'll likely have some big at-bats this October, and he's toward the top of the list for American League Rookie of the Year.
Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks
MLB
Who is he?: The 24-year-old Reynolds, a former Virginia standout, is the Diamondbacks' rookie third baseman.
The lowdown: Reynolds made an immediate impact with 14 RBI in his first 15 games after his call-up in May. He drove in five runs in an Aug. 30 victory, and has supplanted Chad Tracy at third base for first-place Arizona. He's hitting .272 with 12 home runs as of Sept. 1.
Jayson Werth, Phillies
MLB
Who is he?: The 28-year-old Werth is a valuable fourth outfielder for the Phillies.
The lowdown: Werth had hits in nine consecutive at-bats in late August for the Phillies as they surged back into the National League East with a four-game sweep of the Mets. He's hitting .326 with six home runs.
James Loney, Dodgers
MLB
Who is he?: Loney, one of the Dodgers' top hitting prospects, took over for Nomar Garciaparra at first base and is hitting in the No. 3 hole for Los Angeles.
The lowdown: The left-hander hit .380 in Triple-A last season, and is hitting .308 with six home runs as of Sept. 1 for the Dodgers, where he's become their first baseman of the present and future.
Matt Diaz, Braves
MLB
Who is he?: The 29-year-old Diaz, after bouncing around the minors for years after a solid college career at Florida State, is the Braves' left fielder.
The lowdown: A platoon player in 2006, Diaz is putting up great stats in 2007 with 12 home runs and a .349 average for the Braves.
Milton Bradley, Padres
MLB
Who is he?: The 29-year-old is hardly unknown, having played for five other teams in an eight-year career. But he's making a big impact with a team having trouble at the plate.
The lowdown: With 10 home runs in just 120 at-bats for the Padres since a trade from Oakland, he has to play every day. San Diego just has to hope the distractions stay away.
