Alfredo Despaigne
From BR Bullpen
Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez (Triturador)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 172 lb.
- Born June 17, 1986 in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba Cuba
Center fielder Alfredo Despaigne is one of the brightest young stars in Cuban baseball.
In the 2004 World Junior Championship, Despaigne hit cleanup for the Cuban team that won Gold. He batted .263/.400/.526 with 8 runs in six games and tied for the tourney lead with one home run (7 players each hit one in the event). He scored the most runs in the competition, beating out the likes of Justin Upton.
Despaigne debuted in the Cuban leagues in the 2004-2005 Serie Nacional. During the 2006-2007 Serie Nacional, he hit .321/~.394/.539 with 16 homers, 60 runs and 66 RBI for Granma. Despite his small size, the 20-year-old phenom tied Juan Carlos Linares for fifth in the league in homers, four behind leader Alexei Ramírez. He was 5th in total bases (182), tied teammate Yohenis Cespedes for 4th in RBI (six behind leader Jose Julio Ruiz and fifth in slugging, ranking ahead of the much more famous Yulieski Gourriel.
Despaigne joined the Cuban national team for the 2007 World Port Tournament, replacing Giorvis Duvergel in center field. He hit .448/.419/.828 to lead the tournament in average and slugging as Cuba won the tournament; teammate Yosvani Peraza was named MVP. In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, Despaigne batted .250/.333/.375 and had three outfield assists in eight games. He was at the center of a conflict in the game with Venezuela when he was plunked by former major leaguer Beiker Graterol. Despaigne started off the Cup 3 for 19 but went 5 for his final 13, including a 3-for-5 game against the Bronze Medalists from Japan in the quarterfinals. In the Gold Medal game, he drove in 2 of Cuba's 3 runs in a loss to the US, singling home Yoandry Urgellés and Eduardo Paret against Brian Duensing. It was his only hit in the game, but he also came up with a big defensive play, throwing out Delwyn Young at home.
Despaigne set a new Cuban Serie Nacional record in 2007-2008, with 58 extra base hits. He hit .364/.474/.714 and finished among the league leaders in runs (78), tied for 5th in hits (117), led in doubles (33), was 4th in home runs (24), 2nd in total bases (232, trailing MVP Alexei Bell), tied for 4th in steals (14 in 20 tries), was 7th in average, second in slugging (.005 behind Bell) and tied for 5th in times hit by pitch (15). He joined Bell and Urgellés on the Serie Nacional All-Star outfield.
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