Alfredo

Despaigne

Despaigne was suspended from the Mexican League for using what Dominican authorities have said is a false passport. The 27-year-old slugger is awaiting a final ruling on his eligibility in the league. If he is unable to return, it might work out well for him, as he could land a lucrative contract to play in Japan like outfielder Frederich Cepeda and third baseman Yulieski Gourriel.

Despaigne had previously been playing for the Campeche Pirates in the Mexican League, but the league banned him for life after it was found that he was using a fraudulent Dominican passport. His contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines was brokered by the Cuban government, who allows players to play in Japan with the understanding that they will return home when the Serie Nacional season begins. The hope is that the new system will prevent some defections. One of best power hitters in Cuba, Despaigne is the third player to sign with a Japanese team since the new arrangement was put into place, joining third baseman Yulieski Gourriel and outfielder Frederich Cepeda.

It’s unclear how or when he got the passport, but this means that Despaigne has dual citizenship between both Cuban and the Dominican Republic. Thanks to a new loophole, the Cuban government has allowed players to participate in foreign (non U.S.) professional leagues only if it believes they won’t defect. However, since Despaigne is in Mexico and has a Dominican passport, he could technically defect at any time and announce his intention to come to the United States to play in MLB. It’s unclear if he’s planning to do that, but the situation is worth watching. The 27-year-old is one of the best hitters in Cuba and is highly regarded for his power from the right side of the plate.

Frederich Cepeda went deep twice, and Yuliesky Gourriel also homered for Cuba, which got six scoreless innings from starter Norge Vera. Despaigne made a big impression in last year’s Olympics and could now be considered Cuba’s best young hitter. The 23-year-old is one to watch over the rest of the tournament.