By Jose Alejandro Rodriguez Zas
On the morning of this Wednesday, January 26, at the Latinoamericano stadium, the burly slugger from Granma Alfredo Despaigne signed a new contract with the Softbank Falcons team of the Japanese Professional Baseball League (NPB).
As reported by Jitthe meeting was attended by the vice president of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB), the former pitcher from Sancti Spiritus and Cuban teams, Yovani Aragón, as well as representatives of the Japanese team, to sign an agreement that covers a single season, that of 2022 , clarifying that Despaigne’s own offensive performance may allow it to be extended.
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The Cuban slugger debuted in 2014 on the Japanese professional circuit with the Chiba Lotte Mariners, a franchise with which he played until 2016, adding 54 home runs and 187 RBIs in 282 games played.
Then, in 2017, he signed with SoftBank, his team in the last five seasons in the Japanese league, with which he has accumulated 116 home runs and 318 RBIs in 487 games, being crowned champion four times (2017-2020), but out of the final. in the most recent campaign.
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In general, Throughout his eight seasons in the NPB, Despaigne He has played 769 games, with a batting average of .263, the product of 706 hits in 2,689 official at-bats, including 11 doubles, three triples and 170 home runs, in addition to 505 RBIs and 381 runs scored.
The Cuban’s offensive line is .353/.496/.849 (OBP/SLU/OPS), with 362 walks received, 25 hits and has struck out 620 times. In addition, he has stolen three bases in 10 attempts, has 23 sacrifice flies and has hit 90 times into a double play.
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On the morning of this Monday, two other Cuban baseball players, third baseman from Matanzas Yurisbel Gracial and left-handed pitcher from Pinar del Río, Livan Moinelo, they had also signed their respective contracts with the SoftBank Falcons. According to the aforementioned publication, everyone will leave today for Japan to join the team’s preseason.
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LAST MINUTE: Despaigne agreed with SoftBank, will decide its performance