Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Oswaldo Cabrera Injury: Why Was He Taken Off the Field in an Ambulance?

A joyful Yankees win ended in heartbreak.

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

A night that should’ve ended in celebration for the New York Yankees took a heartbreaking turn in the ninth inning on Monday, when Oswaldo Cabrera collapsed at home plate after scoring on an Aaron Judge sacrifice fly. What started as a commanding 11-5 win over the Mariners quickly turned into a moment of collective dread.

Aaron Judge sac fly makes it 11-5 Yanks and Oswaldo Cabrera is injured on the play pic.twitter.com/xrrci3oGMm
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 13, 2025

The 26-year-old utilityman, now almost the team’s everyday starting third baseman, was sprinting home from third when he took a wide route to avoid Cal Raleigh’s tag. He did, but in the process, overran the plate and crumpled to the ground after appearing to injure his left leg while trying to stop. Cabrera tapped the plate with his hand, completing the play, but never got back up.

Yankees trainers sprinted out immediately. Players stood in silence, crouched or with hands on their heads. The cart came out at first, but it wasn’t enough. A full ambulance was summoned from center field. The stadium, just moments earlier roaring for Judge’s deep fly ball, fell into stunned quiet.

ALSO READ: Even In Pain, Oswaldo Cabrera Makes Aaron Judge (and Fans) Smile with a Simple Question

The sight of Cabrera being lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled away, through the outfield gate in an ambulance, was gut-wrenching. Yankees huddled around the plate. Coaches knelt. Even Mariners fans watched in solemn concern.

Social Media Reacts to Oswaldo Cabrera’s Injury

There’s a reason this one hit hard. Oswaldo Cabrera isn’t just a player, he’s a beloved presence in the clubhouse and across the league. Whether it’s his relentless energy or ever-present smile, Cabrera is one of those glue guys every team wants and every fan roots for. The reaction made that clear. Trent Grisham wiped away a tear in his postgame scrum. Josh Hart of the New York Knicks tweeted his support. Mariners players and their official team account followed suit.

Oswaldo Cabrera 🙌🏽🙌🏽
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) May 13, 2025

Wishing the best for Oswaldo Cabrera 🙏
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 13, 2025

Sobering moment as Oswaldo Cabrera is down in serious pain after scoring on a sac fly in the ninth. They're calling for a cart.
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) May 13, 2025

Oswaldo Cabrera is one of the nicest guys you could possibly cover as a reporter. He is always exuberant about baseball and life. Really hope he's not as seriously injured as it looks.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) May 13, 2025

You'd be hard-pressed to find a person who is more cheerful than Oswaldo Cabrera. Hopefully this isn't as awful as it looks. https://t.co/qnsrGorFOy
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) May 13, 2025

Injuries are the worst. Sending healing vibes and best wishes to Oswaldo Cabrera 🫶⚾️
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 13, 2025

Cabrera was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. The Yankees have yet to release a full update, but his teammates, and an entire fanbase, will be waiting anxiously.

Oswaldo Cabrera

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.