Alfredo Despaigne Rodriguez (born June 17, 1986) is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder. He played for the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Alfredo Despaigne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Despaigne with the SoftBank Hawks in 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outfielder / Designated hitter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born: (1986-06-17) June 17, 1986 (age 36) Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NPB debut | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July, 29, 2014, for the Chiba Lotte Marines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NPB statistics (through July 14, 2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Batting average | .260 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home runs | 161 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RBI | 470 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hits | 654 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
|
In 2009, Despaigne had one of the most dominating seasons in Cuban baseball history, breaking the Cuban Home Run record while hitting .373 with 97 RBIs.[citation needed] Following the season, he was named MVP of the National Series. Despaigne was again excellent in 2010,[1] ranking among the best hitters in various statistical categories.[2] In 2012, he set a new Cuban league regular-season home run record, with 35.[3]
On June 21, 2013, Despaigne signed with the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. In 33 games, he slashed .338/.364/.564 with 8 home runs and 24 RBI. In 2014, Despaigne played in 20 games for Campeche, batting .346/.407/.603 with 5 home runs and 15 RBI.[4]
On July 15, 2014, he signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[5] Despaigne appeared in 45 games, hitting .311, with 12 home runs and 33 runs batted in. After the season, on December 8, the Marines signed him[6] to a two-year contract.[7][8] In the 2015 season, Despaigne finished the regular season in 103 games with a batting average of .258, 18 home runs and a RBI of 62. In the 2016 season, Despaigne finished the regular season in 134 games with a batting average of .280, 24 home runs and a RBI of 92. On December 20, 2016, it was announced that team did not make a contract offer[9] and next day he became free agent in NPB.[10] In 2017, Despaigne played a key role[clarification needed] in Granma's win of the Cuban National Series.[11]
On February 11, 2017, Despaigne signed with Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the NPB.[12] In 2017 season, Despaigne finished the regular season in 136 games with a batting average of .262, 35 home runs and a RBI of 103. And he was honored for the Pacific League home run leader, the Pacific League RBI leader, and the Pacific League Best Nine Award at the NPB AWARDS 2017. [13]
In the 2018 season, Despaigne finished the regular season in 116 games with a batting average of .238, 29 home runs and a RBI of 74. And he was selected 2018 NPB All-Star game [jp].[14]
In 2019, Despaigne finished the regular season in 130 games with a batting average of .259, 36 home runs and a RBI of 88. And he was honored for the Japan Series Outstanding Player Award at the 2019 Japan Series. [15] On December 2, 2019, he become free agent.[16]
On January 22, 2020, Despaigne signed a new two-year contract with Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.[17] However, due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to leave Cuba and was able to come to Japan on July 19.[18] In the 2020 season, Despaigne finished the regular season in 25 games with a batting average of .224, 6 home runs and a RBI of 12. In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, he contributed to the team's fourth consecutive Japan Series champion by scoring 6 RBIs per game in the Japan Series equal to the current record, including a grand slam in Game 2 on November 22.[19]
Despaigne posted an impressive season in 2007, afterwards earning a key role on Cuba's National Team.[citation needed] He was selected the 2004 World Junior Baseball Championship [jp], 2007 World Port Tournament, 2007 Baseball World Cup, 2008 Summer Olympics, 2009 World Baseball Classic, 2010 World University Baseball Championship,[20] 2010 Intercontinental Cup, 2011 Pan American Games, 2012 exhibition games against Chinese Taipei and CPBL All-Stars,[21] 2012 exhibition games against Japan,[22] 2013 World Baseball Classic, 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2015 Pan American Games,[23] 2015 WBSC Premier12[24] and 2017 World Baseball Classic.[25]
He was named the Best Hitter at the 2007 World Port Tournament, and was also a part of the Cuban team which won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[citation needed]
Despaigne won with his national team the gold medal of the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico.[26][27][28]
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks current roster | |
---|---|
Pitchers |
|
Catchers |
|
Infielders |
|
Outfielders |
|
Development pitchers |
|
Development catchers |
|
Development infielders |
|
Development outfielders |
|
First squad coaching |
|
Second squad coaching |
|
Third squad coaching |
|
Cuba roster – 2009 World Baseball Classic | |
---|---|
| |
|
Cuba roster – 2013 World Baseball Classic | |
---|---|
| |
|
Cuba roster – 2017 World Baseball Classic | |
---|---|
| |
|