The Oakland Athletics welcomed Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes to Spring Training on Sunday as he took part in his first practice alongside his new teammates. He took some batting practice alongside Manny Ramirez, and according to Jerry Crasnick, was very impressive with the stick:
Yoenis Cespedes unloads on a pitch in batting practice with the #Athletics lockerz.com/s/189550312
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) March 4, 2012
Cespedes signed a four-year, $36 million contract this offseason, the highest ever for a Cuban defector. Cespedes joins an A's squad that currently has 16 outfielders in camp, and manager Bob Melvin says he has some catching up to do before making his Cactus League debut. Cespedes said that he'll need only about five or six days to be game ready.
He is projected to be a major-leaguer come opening day, but whether he'll usurp Coco Crisp for the center field position or take up the mantle in left will be the main question surrounding him this spring.
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