The Phillies released a former organizational minor-league pitcher of the year amid a disaster season from the starter.
Right-hander Jean Cabrera, named a Paul Owens Award winner by the club in 2021, was released on Friday, the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils announced. He had previously been designated for assignment by the Phillies last month. Cabrera, 24, had a 7.64 ERA in 21 minor-league outings in 2026.
Cabrera signed with the Phillies as an international free agent in 2019 and made his professional debut two years later. He had a 1.54 ERA in 13 starts as a 19-year-old in the Dominican Summer League, allowing just one home run and striking out 61 batters compared to 10 walks. He received his Paul Owens Award, given to the top position player and pitcher in Philadelphia’s system each year, alongside Bryson Stott on Sept. 20, 2021, at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies added Cabrera to their 40-man roster following the 2024 season. He had reached Double-A Reading and returned to the level in 2025, posting a 3.81 ERA in 26 starts. He never replicated his rookie-ball success, but he was solid as he climbed the ranks.
This year, however, the wheels fell off. Cabrera began the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and struggled mightily. He had a 9.32 ERA in seven starts for the IronPigs, and he was demoted to Double-A in May. He was DFA’d on June 6 to make room for outfielder Bryan De La Cruz on the 40-man roster, then outrighted back to Reading when he cleared waivers. With the Fightins, Cabrera had a 6.86 ERA in 14 outings.
Cabrera was never a top-of-the-system prospect, but he was an interesting young pitcher at one point who seemed to have a potential path to the major leagues with the Phillies if all had gone right. Ultimately, the organization decided to part ways after he walked 44 batters in 88 1/3 innings and surrendered a .947 OPS to his opponents this season rather than stick with him in the rotation or try him as a reliever. Cabrera is now a free agent.
