Yoelqui_Céspedes

Yoelqui Céspedes

Yoelqui Céspedes

Cuban baseball player

Yoelqui Céspedes Maceo (born September 24, 1997), also known as Yoelkis Céspedes, is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He played for Alazanes de Granma of the Cuban National Series before he defected from Cuba.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Céspedes and the second or maternal family name is Maceo.
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Career

Early career

Céspedes played for the Alazanes de Granma of the Cuban National Series. He batted .287/.351/.415 in Cuba.[1] He also played for the Cuba national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[2][3]

On June 25, 2019, Céspedes defected from Cuba while in Dayton, Ohio. At the time, he was playing for the Cuba national baseball team, which was participating in a CanAm League showcase event.[4] He worked out in the Bahamas, preparing for Major League Baseball to declare him a free agent.[5]

Chicago White Sox

On December 22, 2020, Céspedes agreed to a $2 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.[6] The White Sox announced the signing on January 15, 2021.[7] On June 19, he was assigned to the high-A Winston-Salem Dash of High-A East.[1] In June 2021, Cespedes was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.[8] The White Sox promoted Céspedes to the Birmingham Barons of Double-A South and assigned him to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League after the regular season.[9] He played for Birmingham for the 2022 season and batted .258 with 17 home runs and 59 RBI in 119 games played; he also had 154 strikeouts and only 29 walks.[10]

Céspedes split the 2023 season between Birmingham and the Triple–A Charlotte Knights. In 121 games between the two affiliates, he batted .230/.319/.350 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI, and 16 stolen bases.[11] On March 30, 2024, Céspedes was released by the White Sox organization.[12]

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

On April 24, 2024, Céspedes signed with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[13] In 3 games for the RedHawks, he went 0–for–11 with no home runs or RBI. On May 16, Céspedes was released by the RedHawks.[14]

Personal life

His half-brother is Yoenis Céspedes.[15][16][17]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Jackson, Josh (June 19, 2021). "White Sox prospect Cespedes to debut". MLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  2. [2]
    "The Cespedes brothers, Yoenis and Yoelkis, are not quite alike". ESPN.com. February 6, 2017.
  3. [3]
    Lara-Cinisomo, Vince (February 8, 2017). "2017 CUBA WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC ROSTER". Baseball America. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  4. [4]
    "Report: Yoelkis Cespedes defects from Cuba". TSN. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  5. [5]
    "Céspedes brothers reunite, prepare for Majors". MLB.com.
  6. [6]
    "White Sox To Sign Yoelki Cespedes". MLB Trade Rumors.
  7. [7]
    Duber, Vinnie (January 15, 2021). "Sox add top ranked international free agent Yoelqui Céspedes". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  8. [8]
    "Futures Game rosters are STACKED". MLB.com.
  9. [9]
    "Yoelqui Cespedes facing challenges, but 'sky is limit for this kid,' White Sox say". Chicago Sun-Times. November 6, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  10. [10]
    "Céspedes working his way back to elite status". MLB.com.
  11. [11]
    "2024 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 49: Yoelqui Céspedes". southsidesox.com. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  12. [12]
    "White Sox Release Lucius Fox, Yoelqui Cespedes". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  13. [13]
    "2024 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  14. [14]
    "2024 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  15. [15]
    "The Cespedes brothers, Yoenis and Yoelkis, are not quite alike". February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  16. [16]
    Calcaterra, Craig (February 2, 2017). "Meet Yoenis Cespedes' little brother Yoelkis". Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  17. [17]
    "Yoenis Cespedes brother Yoelkis stars for Cuba". MLB.com. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
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