Cleveland, OH

Not many people outside Cleveland heard about Asdrubal Cabrera before the shortstop won the Silver Slugger award this week, but his performance during the regular season ensured everyone in the Indians organization knew his name.

Cabrera, 25, led all AL shortstops with 92 RBI while sharing the lead with 165 hits and finishing second in home runs, doubles (32) and runs scored (87).

His 25 home runs set a single-season Indians record for shortstops, topping Silver Slugger runner-up Jhonny Peralta's mark of 24 in 2005.

The All-Star didn't always have his name in lights, as Cabrera struggled to make the majors out of his hometown of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. After finally catching on and coming up through the Seattle Mariners organization, he was acquired by the Indians on June 30, 2006, in exchange for Eduardo Perez.

Cabrera, a career shortstop, was a non-roster invitee in 2007, but eventually took over at second base for an ineffective Josh Barfield .

Though the Venezuela native turned the 14th unassisted triple play in MLB history in 2008, on June 9 Cabrera was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo after hitting a team low .184 with 14 RBI in 52 games. The resilient slugger didn't relent, hitting.326 in 34 games with 25 runs, seven doubles, four homers and 13 RBI to be called back up and become the Tribe's full-time shortstop.

Cabrera has not disappointed, emerging in 2011 as a bonafide superstar slugger. The Indians and their fans have plenty of good times to come, with Cabrera under contract as an arbitration-eligible player through the 2013 season.

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