Yurisbel Gracial Garcia (born 14 October 1985) is a Cuban baseball player. He plays for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) since 2018. He also plays in the Cuban National Series for the Cocodrilos de Matanzas.
Yurisbel Gracial | |
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![]() Gracial Garcia with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 27 | |
Third baseman | |
Born: (1985-10-14) 14 October 1985 (age 36) Guantánamo, Cuba | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
NPB debut | |
April 19, 2018, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
CNS statistics (through 2018 season) | |
Batting average | .310 |
Home runs | 82 |
Runs batted in | 404 |
NPB statistics (through March 30, 2022) | |
Batting average | .300 |
Home runs | 52 |
Runs batted in | 151 |
Teams | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Gracial served in the Cuban military before playing for Matanzas in the Cuban National Series.[1] In 2016, Gracial played for the Québec Capitales of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, slashing .320/.376/.476 with 9 home runs and 58 RBI.[2] He signed back with the club in 2017, and batted .333/.399/.524 with 13 home runs and 65 RBI. Gracial was released by Québec prior to the 2018 season.
In 2018, Gracial signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League.[3] In 2018 season, he finished the regular season in 54 games with a batting average of .292, a 9 home runs, and a RBI of 30. And he participated in the 2018 Japan Series.
Gracial re-signed with the Hawks for the 2019 season.[4] He batted 6-for-16 (.375) with three home runs and six RBIs in the 2019 Japan Series and won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award.[5] Gracial finished the regular season in 103 games with a batting average of .319, a 28 home runs, and a RBI of 68.
On January 22, 2020, Gracial signed a new two-year contract with Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.[6] 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.[7] In 2020 season, Gracial finished the regular season in 69 games with a batting average of .277, 10 home runs and a RBI of 35. In the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, Gracial contributed to the team's fourth consecutive Japan Series champion with two hits in Game 1, a home run in Game 2, and an RBI hit in Game 3.[8][9]
In 2017, Gracial was elected to the Cuba national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[10]
In 2019, Gracial was elected to the Cuba national baseball team at the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[11]
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks current roster | |
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Pitchers |
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Catchers |
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Infielders |
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Outfielders |
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Development pitchers |
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Development catchers |
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Development infielders |
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Development outfielders |
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First squad coaching |
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Second squad coaching |
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Third squad coaching |
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Cuba roster – 2017 World Baseball Classic | |
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Japan Series MVP Award | |
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