A rumor was spread throughout internet on Monday, largely from the Japanese media, who claimed the imminent signing of the star Cuban baseball player Yulieski Gourriel by the Yokohama Dena BayStars, something that actually took place yesterday afternoon
According to a spokesman for the Cuban Baseball Federation, Gourriel, currently playing for Industriales in the Cuban National Series, signed for the team belonging to the Japanese Central League, which this season is mired in big slump, placed one-to-last and 9 games away from the leaders.
The signing took place in the Latinoamericano stadium in Havana city, where Yulieski played last season. The meeting was attended by Tony Castillo, Cuban official that signed the agreement, and the chief of operations of the Japanese team Shun Kakazu , besides Lourdes Gourriel , former star and father of the baseball player.
The Japanese executive praised Yulieski, whom they have seen in recent years at the World Classic. “Besides being a contact hitter and with power, he is quick on the bases. He perfectly fits the requirements of the team, “he said.
For its part, Gourriel said he will fulfill a dream, to live a desired experience, and said he will overcome obstacles like being far from country and family, as well as the language. “Despite all that, I will give my best. That’s the second best baseball in the world. It is demanding, where you have to play well to shine. “
From Japan , Shigeru Takada , general manager of the Yokohama Dena BayStars admitted it will be a pleasure to have Yulieski services , who will be the fifth foreign player in its roster, one more than allowed by the organizers of the League.
This point, he said, will not be a setback, as the category of Gourriel makes worthy finding a solution. For now, the managers’ plan is to move second baseman Takehiro Ishikawa to center field and leave the second base for Yulieski, who will hit third in the lineup.
In the evening, OnCuba spoke with his brother Yunieski Gourriel , who explained that Yulieski was in Havana on Monday to sign the contract with Yokohama, but then returned to Varadero, where he has been in recent days . He will stay there for a while, resting some and undertaking a special training plan on the beach.
CEPEDA, A GIANT
Some were consumed by waiting to see Frederich Cepeda wearing the shirt of the Yomiuri Giants , the most successful club of Japanese baseball, that about a month ago hired the ballplayer for one year.
Outfielder and ambidextrous hitter, one of the few remaining in the national tournaments, trained in his province following a program conducted by the Asian franchise, which sees in Cepeda a man able to consolidate in the middle of the lineup and provide an average defense in left field, details that would strengthen the squad in its race for its historic title number 23.
Precisely, that is the number the Cuban will wear in the most prestigious baseball tournament in Asia and the second most important in the world, after the U.S. Major Leagues. There, he will begin work in the minors, in order to meet the essential process of adaptation, both the time zone and language as systems of training and playing for the Giants, who are fully immersed in the struggle to classify to the postseason, land now are in the second place of the Central League behind Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Cepeda arrived in Japan on Sunday after 21 hours of travel, and is expected to be joined by his wife and son in a short time. On arrival he was greeted by the general manager of Yomiuri, Atsuhi Harasawa, who later in the official presentation was excited by the Cuban contract and the possibility of having more players from the Island in the future.
Regarding overpopulation of foreigners in the team, Harasawa said he has all the confidence in his mentor, Tatsuroni Hara, for him to decide what the best option is, since one of the five foreign players will have to stay out of the roster, as the organizers allowed only four per team
For the Giants, the Cuban Leslie Anderson and Venezuelan Jose Lopez seem to be immovable, because together they have 17 homers and 54 RBIs in the event so far, while Americans pitchers Chris Seddon (starter) and Scott Mathieson (reliever) also have good results, the first as a fixed feature of the rotation and the second as leader in save games.
For these reasons, taking one out to open a hole for Cepeda is a real pain, only that the millionaire contract signed by the Cuban indicates that sooner rather than later, at the end of adaptation, he will be in the big club.
“I’m proud to be part of the Giants, I’ll give myself 100% to earn a place in the team and meet the expectations of the fans,” Cepeda said to the official site of the Giants, where he explained that he was only in Japan to play ball and learn a new philosophy.
During his official presentation Monday, he showed his chivalry and professionalism to respond with a smile to the photographers request for a photograph session.
Meanwhile, Shigeo Nagashima, honorary coach of the Yomiuri, said the future goal is to maintain friendly relations with Cuba to follow baseball field interacting with the island, which now will be a little less complicated since Giants signed an agreement of friendship with the Cuban Baseball Federation.
