It took a month and a half, but Yoelqui Céspedes made his stateside professional debut with the Winston-Salem Dash on Saturday night.
Those hoping for instant fireworks would be disappointed. Those who just wanted to know he existed will come away pleased, because Winston-Salem streams its games.
Céspedes went 0-for-3 with a pair of groundouts to the left side, along with a four-pitch walk and an eight-pitch strikeout. He opened his record by jamming himself on a hanging slider ...
... and then he grounded out firmly to third on the first-pitch of his final at-bat.
The walk and strikeout were particularly reflective of any future for either column. He wasn't tempted to swing at any of Carmen Mlodzinski's pitches in his second plate appearance, but in his third trip up, he fouled off three consecutive 2-2 pitches before flailing on a slider well off the plate.
He served as Winston-Salem's DH, so we didn't get to see how fast his legs could carry a frame listed at 5'9" and 205 pounds. The best evidence of any plus speed was seen in his willingness to dance well off second before scoring on a Lenyn Sosa double.
The important thing is he's playing, and we don't have to wonder whether or how visa rules can apply to his situation. The Grand Canyon-sized gap in estimations of his readiness give me no real clue about what I should expect. All I figure is that it wouldn't surprise me if it took him a week or two to discover his timing. After that, we'll just have to watch. At least we get to now.
Charlotte 13, Jacksonville 7
- Tim Beckham's homer streak ended, and he had to settle for a 2-for-4 night instead, with a double and a sac fly.
- Gavin Sheets was 1-for-4 with a homer and a walk.
- Jake Burger went 2-for-5 with a double and two errors.
- Blake Rutherford was 1-for-3 with his second homer and a walk.
- Jimmy Lambert: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
- Jace Fry: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP
Highlights:
*Burger's errors were both on pop-ups off the bat of Chad Wallach, and nearly identical ones at that. The only difference between the first ...
... and second is lighting.
Mississippi 3, Birmingham 2
- Romy Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with a walk, strikeout and stolen base.
- Carlos Pérez was 2-for-4.
- Ti'Quan Forbes went 0-for-2 with a walk, strikeout and stolen base.
- Jason Bilous is back: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 46 of 62 pitches for strikes.
Winston-Salem 4, Greensboro 2
- Yolbert Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Yoelqui Céspedes went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Lenyn Sosa, 2-for-4 with a double.
- Duke Ellis was 0-for-3.
Kannapolis 9, Down East 1
- Caberea Weaver went 2-for-5 with a homer.
- Bryan Ramos homered twice during a 3-for-5 night.
- Luis Mieses, 4-for-5 with a double.
- DJ Gladney wore the platinum sombrero.
- Harvin Mendoza went 1-for4- with a double.
- Lency Delgado went 1-for-4 with a homer and a strikeout.
- James Beard, 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
- Bailey Horn: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K
