Cuban stars can’t resist White Sox’ appeal

The White Sox’ Cuban pipeline, the gift that keeps on giving, produced yet another prospect last week in five-tool outfielder Yoelqui Cespedes, with more where that came from with the expected signing of right-hander Norge Vera.

Elderly Sox fans saw outfielder Minnie Minoso, the Hall of Fame-worthy “Cuban Comet,” star at old Comiskey Park during the 1950s and early ’60s. On the 2005 World Series team, Cuban right-hander Jose Contreras was one of four Sox starters to string four complete games in a row in the American League Championship Series.

Shortly after, Alexei Ramirez played All-Star-caliber shortstop, and now 2020 AL Most Valuable Player Jose Abreu, 2020 Gold Glove center fielder and Rookie of the Year runner-up Luis Robert and star third baseman Yoan Moncada make up a third of the lineup for a team viewed as a World Series contender. (On Aug. 1, Robert, Moncada, catcher Yasmani Grandal and Abreu became the first Cuban-born players in major-league history to bat first, second, third and fourth in a starting lineup in an 11-5 victory against the Royals. They combined to go 11-for-22 with four RBI and seven runs scored.)

In announcing the anticipated signing of Cespedes on Jan. 15, the first day of the international signing period, another potential Cuban star joined the club. The deal for Cespedes for a $2.05 million signing bonus adds the No. 1 international prospect, per MLB Pipeline, to the farm system, and the Sox just so happen to be looking for a long-term answer in right field.

“Yoelqui is a natural center fielder with the ability to play all three outfield spots,” said Marco Paddy, the Sox’ international scouting guru who serves as a special assistant to general manager Rick Hahn. “The tool set is there. He can run and throw, he’s a very good, disciplined hitter with a good feel for the strike zone and he’s shown tremendous power to all sides of the field. We’re getting a guy that has the potential to have five tools in the major leagues, and we’re very excited about it.”

Cespedes, 23, won’t be the Opening Day right fielder, but Paddy said he’s not too far away. While a 2022 debut, barring glitches in his progress, is the more reasonable expectation, an appearance in late 2021 might not be out of the question.

“When you’re talking about a player you never want to put a timetable on his arrival,” Paddy said, “but from a baseball standpoint, he’s very close. He’s advanced; he knows how to play the game.

“It’s just a matter of him doing the things he needs to do to advance, but he’s very close to the major leagues.”

An acclimation period to the United States in the Sox’ farm system — Class A is where he’ll get his footing, per Sox director of player development Chris Getz — must unfold before projections can be made about his debut.

“I can’t tell you exactly how close or far I am to the majors because I never played here,” Cespedes said. “I know the quality is higher than the baseball I used to play in Cuba. But I think with time in the minors, I’m going to develop and show what I can do, and we’ll see how long it’s going to take. But I’m confident in myself.”

Cespedes is 12 years younger than two-time All-Star Yoenis Cespedes, his half-brother with whom he shares the same father. To lift a basketball description, Cespedes plays bigger than his 5-9 frame, but he plays with a flair that outsizes his somewhat reserved demeanor.

Staying injury-free and playing every day are his only stated goals.

Yoenis (a free agent) has hammered home the importance of “working hard and working every day.”

“He knows what I’m going to face,” Cespedes said.

Cespedes defected from the Cuban national team in June 2019 while playing in the Can-Am League in New York. He did not play baseball last year, but the downtime was well spent working out with his brother at a community college in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He added muscle and about 15 pounds, raising his weight to 205.

When his time will come remains to be seen. The level of pitching in Cuba is not the island’s forte, so his minor-league hitting experience will present his first test.

The 6-4, 190-pound Vera, 20, is a Cuban pitching exception with a 94-97 mph fastball with “a plus breaking ball and a plus slider,” Paddy said. He is the No. 15 international prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

“He’s got the potential to be a frontline starter in the big leagues,” Paddy said. “Commands the strike zone and has a great feel for pitching.”

According to Baseball America, the Sox are also expected to sign Dominican infielder Victor Quezada, catcher Manuel Guariman, outfielder Dario Barrero and right-handers Adrian Gil and Gabriel Rodriguez. The latter four are from Venezuela.

“This class has a chance to be as good as any other class that we’ve had,” Paddy said.

Cespedes is the centerpiece. And it was the Sox’ history with Cubans that gave them an in for reeling him in.

“I didn’t know much about the history of the organization, but when I was in Cuba, I was following the Cuban players they have, Abreu, Moncada,” Cespedes said. “And I played against Robert in Cuba. I kind of had a feel for this organization because I saw that they have a very good group of Cuban players. That made my decision easier to sign with this organization.”