Cepeda hoping hard work pays off in second year in Japan
While much of the media horde tasked with covering the Yomiuri Giants has spent the spring either breathlessly reporting on every nuance of Shinnosuke Abe's transition from catcher to first base or peppering manager Tatsunori Hara about what's wrong with the club, Frederich Cepeda ...
Cuban players experienced mixed success this season
The first season of the so-called "Cuban invasion" into Japanese baseball has ended with mixed results and the uncertainty as to whether it will continue in 2015 or was a one-time fad that will fade quickly. Eight Cuban-born players were signed to contracts in ...
Cuban stars battle minor injuries during first year in Japan
Cuban slugger Alfredo Despaigne returned to the Chiba Lotte Marines lineup Sunday afternoon after a few days of convalescing from the discomfort in his left side that had kept him out since Aug. 22. Despaigne certainly looked no worse for wear. He put on a ...
No time to rest as Cepeda hits ground running in Japan
Frederich Cepeda has had quite the week. The Cuban star arrived in Japan May 11, had a introductory news conference the next day, and was in a Yomiuri Giants uniform, playing left field and hitting fourth, on May 15, probably before his jetlag had even ...
Cepeda crushes first home run in NPB; Giants snap five-game slide
Frederich Cepeda, while playing for the Cuban national team, got a chance to watch Kenta Maeda pitch for Samurai Japan during the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The Cuban, now with the Yomiuri Giants, got an even better look at the Hiroshima Carp's celebrated right-hander during ...
'Reverse DH' adds intrigue to interleague play
The 10th season of interleague play in Japanese pro baseball begins in two weeks with a new twist. For the first time, a "reverse designated hitter" rule will be in place. Instead of the DH being used in games where the Pacific League club ...
The Yomiuri Giants have come to terms on a one-year contract in the acquisition of Cuban World Baseball Classic outfielder Frederich Cepeda, the Central League club announced on Saturday. The Giants reached an agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation to sign Cepeda. The 34-year-old Cepeda, ...
