| Jake Cave | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Cave with theMinnesota Twins in 2019 | |
| Doosan Bears – No. 8 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1992-12-04)December 4, 1992 (age 32) Hampton, Virginia, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: May 19, 2018, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| KBO: March 22, 2025, for the Doosan Bears | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .236 |
| Home runs | 45 |
| Runs batted in | 176 |
| KBO statistics (through March 27, 2025) | |
| Batting average | .263 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 2 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Andrew Jacob Cave (born December 4, 1992) is an American professionalbaseballoutfielder for theDoosan Bears of theKBO League. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMinnesota Twins,Philadelphia Phillies, andColorado Rockies. He was drafted by theNew York Yankees in the 6th round of the2011 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2018.
Cave attendedHampton Christian High School inHampton, Virginia. As apitcher for the school's baseball team in his sophomore year, Cave had a 10–0win–loss record and a 1.23earned run average with 109strikeouts in 61innings pitched.[1] He also demonstrated his hitting ability winning the World Wooden Bat Association Under-16 national title. He committed to attendLouisiana State University on acollege baseball scholarship.[2] Before his junior year, he transferred toKecoughtan High School.[1] He also played basketball in high school.[3] In 2011, his senior year at Kecoughtan, he had a .609batting average.[4] Cave was named thePeninsula District andDaily Press Player of the Year. He spent the summer after graduating from Kecoughtan playing for thePeninsula Pilots of theCoastal Plain League.[5][6]
TheNew York Yankees selected Cave in the sixth round, with the 209th overall selection, of the2011 MLB draft. He signed with the Yankees, receiving a $825,000signing bonus.[5] He made his professional debut that season for theGulf Coast Yankees. In his first game, he fractured hiskneecap in a collision athome 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 theCharleston RiverDogs of theSingle–ASouth Atlantic League. He finished the year hitting .282/.347/.401 with twohome runs and 31 RBI. Cave started the 2014 season with theTampa Yankees of theHigh–AFlorida State League.[8] After hitting .304/.354/.395 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 90 games with Tampa, he was promoted to theTrenton Thunder of theDouble–AEastern 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 theScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of theTriple–AInternational League for the last week of the season.[12] He was selected by theCincinnati Reds in the 2015Rule 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 their40-man roster after the season.[18] He wasdesignated for assignment on March 12, 2018, following the Yankees signing ofNeil Walker.[19]
TheMinnesota Twins acquired Cave on March 16, 2018, for minor league pitcherLuis Gil.[20][21] He began the season with theRochester 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 theCOVID-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 theSt. Paul Saints.[35] He was invited to spring training before the 2022 season.[36] Cave had his contract selected on August 1, 2022.[37]
TheBaltimore Orioles claimed Cave off ofwaivers 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]
ThePhiladelphia 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]
On March 24, 2024, four days before the first regular season game, the Phillies traded Cave to theColorado 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–AAlbuquerque Isotopes, but rejected the assignment and elected free agency.[50]
On November 26, 2024, Cave signed a one-year, $1 million deal with theDoosan Bears of theKBO League.[51]
Cave's father, Bryan, played baseball at Kecoughtan and became thehead coach ofThe Apprentice School. Both of Cave's sisters played softball and were named All-District.[3]