Former MLB player Yoenis Cespedes takes a cut at the plate for Team Cuba during the World Baseball Classic on Mar 8, 2023 at Taichung International Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

From My Notebook: Yoenis Céspedes Great Escape from Cuba

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In 2011, Yoenis Céspedes was leading the Cuban league in home runs, after being assigned to the “C team”, considered the worst in the roster, then he decided to defect in the summer of that year. He took a 23-hour speedboat ride to the Dominican Republic, accompanied by six other people (including family members), where he established residency and became a free agent. Why the Dominican Republic?

Unlike Cuba, which is a communist system with no real freedom for its citizens and repression (including imprisonment), the Dominican Republic is a democracy, and just like Cuba, its national sport is baseball. The Cuban players are welcomed and respected. Céspedes lived in the Dominican Republic for approximately seven to eight months before signing his first major league contract with the Oakland A’s in March 2012, just after he gained free agent status and obtained his dream of playing in the Major Leagues, the best baseball league in the world.

As a rookie in the major leagues with the A’s, I met him for the first time in A’s Spring Training in Arizona. In 2012, he was next to Bartolo Colón, the veteran pitcher who was acquired by the A’s and, at the time, was in his 15th season in the majors. They developed a good relationship; Colón was “schooling” Céspedes about what he could expect in the major leagues.

Also, Yoenis told me Colón was his interpreter. This was four years before Commissioner Manfred sent a directive to all 30 MLB teams to hire an interpreter for their Spanish-speaking players. Covering the A’s as their radio play-by-play broadcaster, I developed a very good relationship with Yoenis Céspedes, and on one occasion, I was asked by the team to be his interpreter during A’s fans reunion, especially with A’s season ticket owners.

Yoenis truly liked Oakland; he told me many times he was comfortable with the people of Oakland, and he developed a good relationship with the fan base. He told me this, “Estaría contento de pasar toda mi carrera aqui en Oakland,” which translates to “I would be happy to spend my whole career here in Oakland.” But it was not meant to be, I believe the organization never really appreciated the Cuban player, he was a total package, he hit, hit for power, played great left field with a good, accurate arm.

Nevertheless, he did not stay much longer in Oakland and was traded to the Boston Red Sox on July 31, 2014, in exchange for pitcher Jon Lester. The team wanted an experienced pitcher for a postseason run. I was not surprised he was traded because the A’s anticipated they would lose him to free agency anyway. I think the A’s did not want to pay him the money his agent would be asking.

Yoenis Céspedes was a very popular Cuban player with the A’s, just like another Cuban, José Canseco, many years before. The A’s history with Cuban players is plenty; among others, there was also an excellent shortstop, three-time World Champion, Dagoberto Blanco (Campy) Campaneris, one of owner Charlie Finley’s favorite players. In my opinion, the best ever shortstop in Oakland A’s history.

Yoenis Céspedes today: Retired, Living in Port St.Lucie, Florida, listing his 380-acre ranch for a cool $30 million, with a 12-stall horse stable, a professional batting cage, a private barber shop, a game processing facility for hunting, and a 40X20 foot heated pool. I mean…what else do you need? just for $30 Million, that’s a bargain!.

Yoenis Céspedes MLB career: 8 Years, Played for Oakland, Boston, Detroit, NY(Mets) — .273 average—165 home runs–528 RBI — Two-time All Star 2014 and 2016— Homerun Derby Champion 2013-2014—2015 AL Gold Glove—2026 NL; Silver Slugger

Quote from Cuban-born pitcher Luis Tiant: “If we lose today, it will be over my dead body. They’ll have to leave me face down on the mound”.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

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