CHICAGO — It didn’t take long to see why the Chicago Cubs have coveted Edward Cabrera for a while. Cabrera barely got a chance to take a breath before seeing future Hall of Famer Mike Trout step into the box, the second batter of the night.

With the count full, Cabrera unleashed a nasty curveball for the eighth pitch of the at-bat that Trout swung through.

“I keep thinking about the curveball he threw to Trout,” catcher Carson Kelly said. “Once you do that in the first inning, you’re setting the tone.”

Cabrera, whom the Cubs acquired in an offseason trade with the Miami Marlins, largely cruised from there, leading the way in the Cubs’ 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. The powerful righty worked six dominant shutout frames, allowing just one hit and striking out five while walking just one.

Edward’s got it. 😮‍💨 https://t.co/AGSQoKmH91 pic.twitter.com/PAYqScxQwc

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 31, 2026

“He had everything working,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Carson felt really comfortable with any pitch in any count. With his stuff, if we get into that mode, it’s going to be a tough night for hitters. He got better as the night went on.”

Cabrera is an intimidating presence just looking at him on the mound. At 6 feet 5 and nearly 220 pounds, Cabrera has the prototypical frame teams look for in a pitcher. His fastball Monday averaged 96.4 mph and topped out at 98.1. For a rotation that averaged 93.4 mph on its four-seamers last season, 24th in baseball, Cabrera’s velocity is welcome.

Yet, what makes Cabrera unique is his fastball is arguably his worst pitch. After leaning more on his sinker over his four-seamer last season, Cabrera went to the four-seamer 23 times Monday, three fewer than his nasty changeup that sat at 93 mph. He went to the sinker just three times.

“I definitely feel more comfortable with the four-seam,” Cabrera said through an interpreter. “So I went out there and used it.”

Of his 15 whiffs on the night, five came on that changeup and another five on his slider. In general, it’s those secondaries along with his curveball — which he threw 11 times but used it to get that great strikeout against Trout — that have allowed him to thrive when he’s at his best. And what Caberera showed Monday was near his best.

“He’s got electric stuff,” Kelly said. “Having all those pitches and keeping guys guessing, there’s not one pitch you can sit on. That’s what really makes him special.”

Get the caveats out of the way: This is one game against what is assumed to be a weaker opponent. But the Cubs need this type of performance out of Cabrera as often as they can get it to reach the heights they desire. They traded one of their top prospects, Owen Caissie, expecting they were acquiring a pitcher who was just about to take off.

Along with adding more swing-and-miss to the rotation (Cubs starters were 23rd with a 20.5 percent strikeout rate last season), Cabrera also keeps the ball on the ground quite often. On Monday, he induced six groundballs, including one that erased one of the two base runners he allowed on the evening. In front of the Cubs’ elite defense, Cabrera’s mix of strikeouts and groundballs could help him elevate to a level the Cubs are seeking.

Cabrera rarely pitched in front of large crowds in Miami. The average attendance at LoanDepot Park was just over 14,000 last season. On Monday, 36,702 people filled Wrigley Field. That will likely be a light night as the season pushes deeper into the summer.

“The emotions are definitely different,” Cabrera said. “Because, let’s be real, it’s a big difference in the number of fans we had in Miami. But I try not to focus too much on that.”

If it fazed him, it certainly was hard to notice. Cabrera received a large ovation from the crowd as he headed to the bullpen before the game started. He soaked it in, saying the moment made him “proud,” and made sure to thank the fans for the love after the win.

This, the Cubs hope, is just the beginning for Cabrera. A calm presence in front of big crowds who can quickly quiet the opponents with overpowering stuff. If he can stay healthy and continue to build off his first outing, it won’t be long before Cabrera becomes a fan favorite in Wrigleyville.

“Slow heartbeat,” Kelly said. “That’s what you’re looking for in a guy like that. I just think he’s going to continue to get better.”