By Álex Fernández Fernández
It seems that Yoenis Céspedes’ best days on the baseball field are long gone. And according to what was stated by the head of the Las Aguilas Cibaeñas franchise in the LINDOM League to ESPN, there is no confirmation that he will return to the playing fields of that country in the upcoming winter season. So, the rumors circulating yesterday are nothing but that: rumors.
“According to information provided by the general manager of the Santiago de los Caballeros team, Ángel Ovalles to ESPN Digital, at the moment there has been no closing of a contract or agreement for the 2022-23 season of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (LIDOM).”
This is how the publication reads. Undoubtedly a hard blow to the resurgence aspirations of the 2014 MLB All-Star, and two-times winner of the Home Run Derby.
The aforementioned publication says that “however, it is not ruled out that there may be talks between the two parties in the future but for now the return of Céspedes to the Dominican winter ball is not a confirmed reality”.
Céspedes, who was already in the 2011-2012 postseason with the Quisqueya team, has plans to return to the Big Show that saw him leave without a contract in 2020.
La Potencia, as the 36-year-old native of Campechuela in Granma is also known, had a successful stint in the Major Leagues that was marred by injuries and lack of commitment.
Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets saw his ability to play in the outfield, and he left numbers of .273 batting average, 528 RBI, .824 OPS, 165 homers and 3191 total bases.
The outfielder’s footsteps were followed by another member of the Cespedes family, Yoelqui, who signed with the Chicago White Sox. Last year, in his first minor league season he hit .278 with 7 homers and 20 RBI in 45 games at A+-Winston-Salem. Then his average rose to .298 in 29 games at AA-Birmingham.
