SPORTLIGHT

Caballero a building block for Goldbacks

Bond Brungard
Posted 4/24/19

Jaden Caballero played a single season of junior varsity baseball for Newburgh Free Academy last year. This year he has moved up to the varsity team for his first season, and he’s the starting …

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SPORTLIGHT

Caballero a building block for Goldbacks

Posted

Jaden Caballero played a single season of junior varsity baseball for Newburgh Free Academy last year. This year he has moved up to the varsity team for his first season, and he’s the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter.
“He’s got a load of potential,” said Scott Seabury, Newburgh’s coach. “He is one of those of guy who is one of a building blocks now and for the future.”
Seabury made his comments in Central Valley last week as the Goldbacks were getting ready to play Monroe-Woodbury during a double-header, the second and third games of a divisional series.
The Goldbacks won the first game 8-1, and Caballero hit his first varsity home run as the Goldbacks reached .500 with a 3-3 record.
“It felt good,” said Caballero, of his homer.

Caballero started playing baseball when he was four or five years old, and he continued to the help the Goldbacks during the double-header when he drove in a pair runs in the second game, a Newburgh 5-4 victory, as his team won the series to improve to 4-4.
It may be Caballero’s first varsity season, but he already senses the Goldbacks have the right chemistry for a solid season this year.
“I feel like we have a good team,” he said. “We’re going to build up even more chemistry as we keep playing.”
Caballero plays in the middle of the infield to stop ground balls coming off the bats of right-handed hitters. And he’s also doing the best he can at the plate to help the Goldbacks.
“He is swinging the bat real well and getting on base,” said Seabury. “So he’s doing a good job.”
To continue helping, Caballero said he works hard every day to improve his skills as a ball player.
“It’s all about a work ethic,” he said.