Normally as affable as they come, Oswaldo Cabrera took on an evasive tone when initially asked about the small golden lion statutes, complete with a crown, that began popping up in the Yankees’ clubhouse a few weeks ago.
Where did the monuments of a maned mammal come from? What do they symbolize? And why do they only appear in the lockers of Yankees’ hitters?
“I don’t want to answer that,” Cabrera said when The Daily News first broached the seemingly unserious subject.
See, the utilityman has been on the injured list since shattering his ankle in Seattle on May 12. Unable to assist on the field down the stretch and during the Yankees’ impending playoff run, he did not wish to say anything that put himself at the center of attention or revealed any team secrets.
But why would talking about some feline figurines do that?
It turns out that hitting coach James Rowson has been preaching a lion-like mentality to Bombers batters since spring training. While Rowson did not wish to explain the origin of that messaging, he did say that “it matters to us” and that it “galvanized” the Yankees.
The numbers support that, as Rowson’s offense finished first in runs scored, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, OPS, wRC+ and fWAR.
“It’s just a reminder that you have to think like you’re the king of the jungle. As cliché as it sounds, aspire to be like a lion,” Cody Bellinger told The News. “They’re loyal. They hunt together. They eat together.
“At the end of the day, we’re all in this thing together. It’s a competitive game, and to have any type of mental edge is a blessing.”
“It’s to always know that we’re at the top. Nobody can get us,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. added. “[The lion] definitely has the mentality that he’s always the leader and the top dog to beat.”
Coincidentally, Cabrera subscribed to those concepts long before the Yankees collectively bought in. The 26-year-old shared that with his teammates during a hitters’ meeting a few weeks back.
Then he went on Amazon and purchased about 20 lions for roughly $30 a pop.
“There’s a lot of thought behind it, a lot of care,” Aaron Judge said of the statues, which complement lion-themed shirts with the word “Fierce” on them, which the Yankees have worn all year.
Cabrera, who let his guard down after his peers revealed his gift-giving ways, explained, “That’s how I think, how I play, how I live my life,” when asked about the lions a second time.
“So I just wanted to share that with them and see if I can get somebody the same inspiration that I have from lions,” the Venezuelan native continued. “That was a conversation that we had, and I just bought the statues to remind them that they are a lion inside.
“They are not the biggest or the fastest, but at the same time, they are the king. Why are they the king? Because everybody feels the presence of them. They got the mentality. They are hungry. They are mean.”
Cabrera, who has worn a lion pendant around his neck since he was 19, has certainly made his presence felt since an ambulance carried him out T-Mobile Park in May.
While his gruesome injury — which occurred after he slipped while scoring on an Judge sac fly — originally limited him to the occasional scooter-assisted visit to the Yankees’ clubhouse, he has been around the team more and more as his rehab has progressed. His attendance in meetings and the Yankees’ dugout — Cabrera cheers on teammates from “The Hot Corner” — has been greatly appreciated, as few can rival his positivity.
“He’s always a light,” Aaron Boone said. “No matter the circumstances, he always walks in with a light and a joy to him. That’s who he is all the time. He makes you feel good about yourself. He’s just got that way about him.
“He’s good at life. Always.”
Judge echoed those sentiments, calling Cabrera “one of my favorite teammates.” The Yankees’ captain also said that Cabrera has been showing up early to take care of his rehab checklist so that he can be more involved during his teammates’ regular routines.
“He embodies what it means to be a Yankee, and he wants to help us win any way he can,” Judge said. “It just speaks volumes to the type of teammate he is, the type of person he is, because he cares more about what’s going on around him than his own stuff.
“A lot of guys can feel bad for themselves and be down in the dumps when they’re hurt and [feel they’re] missing out, especially with what we’ve been doing this year. But he’s a guy that always has a smile on his face and is always ready to help somebody else.”
Judge went on to recall how Cabrera suffered his injury scoring on a ball that he hit. Cabrera, in agony after the play, made sure to ask Judge if he successfully touched home plate before being wheeled away. The affirmative answer left Cabrera smiling as his season came crashing to an end.
Always the optimist, Cabrera held out hope for a while that he would return this season, but he only recently began doing light infield work. He plans on visiting the Yankees’ complex in Tampa after the postseason. If all goes well, he will be cleared to play winter ball like he usually does, show up at full strength next spring, and compete for a job on a Yankees bench that has added some new faces since his injury.
For now, Cabrera can take solace in the fact that his gift is resonating.
He said it’s “really emotional” for him to see the Yankees displaying the lions in their lockers. The sight is a reminder of his connection to his teammates, and that he’s having an impact on them as he watches from the sidelines.
“Yeah,” Cabrera replied when asked if the statues make him feel like a contributor. “I’m here every single day to be part of this team. I’m here to try to help them in any way that is supporting them.
“I didn’t do the lions because I want them to feel like I’m here. It’s just because this is what I love. This is what I want to do with my guys. Everybody here, we are a family.”
