A few weeks ago, Cabrera made some history of his own in his home state of South Carolina.
The Cartagena, Colombia native became a U.S. citizen and celebrated his first Fourth of July as an American citizen on Monday. According to The Post Game blog, Cabrera feels reborn.
"I feel I'm enjoying something this year that is bigger than anything else in the world — to be a part of this wonderful country," Cabrera told Post Game reporter Eric Adelson.
Cabrera, proud of his Colombian heritage, wanted to break away from the troubles of traveling that come with being a Colombian citizen.
"Being from Colombia, with all the problems and the stuff you hear about drug wars, they're always skeptical, looking for stuff," Cabrera said.
"You can never understand why. Why do they have to treat me this way? I wanted to become a U.S. citizen and see how they treat me."
According to The Post Game, Cabrera was given two days off in May to take the test and when he received the little blue book, the feeling was "indescribable."
"You get that feeling that the world is yours. That's when everything sinks in."
Cabrera works Monday as the Indians host the Yankees, but his family will be with him in Cleveland to celebrate. His two daughters are full-time citizens but still need passports. Cabrera said he will begin that process next week.
"The opportunities in life are going to open up," Cabrera said of his daughters. "It's going to be incredible for them. I can tell them, 'You can go anywhere you want. Any school, anywhere. It's your future.' "
"I'm really proud, man. Really proud."
