Who Is Yoenis Cespedes? All You Need To Know About Boston's Newest Outfielder
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Red Sox did indeed trade Jon Lester on Thursday, but they did not receive the treasure trove of prospects in return that many projected they would get for their lefty ace.
In return for sending Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes to the Oakland Athletics, Boston received a big boost to their historically bad outfield in Yoenis Cespedes.
Cespedes is said to be one of the best prospects to come out of Cuba, and has put up some solid numbers over his first three years in Major League Baseball. Here is all you need to know about the newest member of the Boston Red Sox:
- Born October 18, 1985, and stands at 5-10 and 250-lbs.
- Cespedes is under contract next year for $10.5 million, but can become a free agent after 2015 due to an opt out clause that allows him to avoid salary arbitration.
- Cespedes owns career splits of .262 BA/.303 OBP/.767 OPS in the majors, hitting 66 homers and driving in 229 runs in 365 games played.
- Hit .256 with 17 home runs, 67 RBI and 62 runs scored for Oakland in 2014. Red Sox outfielders have combined for just 14 home runs this season.
- As a rookie in 2012 he hit .292 with 23 homers and a career-high 83 RBI, and finished second to Mike Trout in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
- Cespedes has hit the ball very well in a small postseason sample. In 10 games between 2012 and 2013 (both ALDS losses by Oakland), he hit .350 (14-for-40) with a home run, two doubles and six RBI.
- He is 6-for-24 (.250) with a .683 OPS in his career at Fenway Park with three doubles and a pair of walks.
- Has played the majority of his career in left field, 232 games, but also has 75 career games in center field.
- He has a cannon of an arm and has 31 career assists. His 12 assists in 2014 lead the American League -- tied with Boston center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr.
Need proof?
Example 1:
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As you can see, he sometimes struggles to catch the ball, but often makes up for that with his arm.
What I've learned about Cespedes: he struggles to catch home runs when being watched by an oversized Rollie Fingers: pic.twitter.com/HCdrKZCNln
— Matthew Geagan (@MattGeagan) July 31, 2014
- Is the two-time reigning Home Run Derby champion, blasting 32 homers in 2013 and following it up with 28 homers in 2014.
- Played in his first All-Star game in 2014, going 0-for-2 at the plate.
- His mother, Estela Milanés, was a pitcher for Cuba's Olympic softball team in the 2000 summer games.
- His agents released a very interesting video ahead of him signing with the Athletics, showcasing their client's abilities. In the video, his name is spelled both "Yoennis" and "Yoenis."
- Was Cuba's starting center fielder in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, hitting .458 with a double, three triples, a pair of home runs, scoring five runs and driving in five over six games.
- In 2011, Cespedes broke Cuba's single-season home run record with 33 blasts. He finished his final season in Cuba with a .333 average, 99 RBI and 89 runs scored.
- Defected from Cuba to the Domincan Republic in 2011, and signed a four-year, $36 million contract with Oakland in February 2012.
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