Detroit Tigers Roster Preview: Yoenis Cespedes

Feb 28, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) poses during Photo day at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Quick hits
Name: Yoenis Cespedes
Age: 29
Position: Outfielder
Salary: $10.5 million
Height: 5’ 10”
Twitter handle: @ynscspds
How the Detroit Tigers got him: December 2014 trade with the Boston Red Sox

2014 season recap

2014 was an interesting season for Yoenis Cespedes. The 29-year-old Cuban star was starting his third season in Oakland. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in July, which brought Jon Lester to Oakland.

In 2014 Cespedes played in 152 games between Boston and Oakland. In those 152 games he batted a .260 average, had a .301 on base percentage and a .450 slugging percentage. He had 156 hits with 36 doubles, 6 triples and 22 home runs and knocked in 100 RBI.

Detroit Tigers /

Detroit Tigers

In the field Cespedes spent time playing in both left and center field. He had a .975 fielding percentage between the two spots, committing 6 errors on the season. He was a positive 9 in defensive runs saved while playing the outfield as well.

If he wasn’t in the outfield he could have been found in the designated hitter spot in the batting lineup. He didn’t play too much at the DH spot he only had 22 games at the DH position all season.

2015 Season Potential

Cespedes will be a big helper in the outfield for the Detroit Tigers. He has never shown much of a weakness while playing the outfield and I don’t see this year being the year he does it. He will be a helper out there and watching his arm and speed out there will be great to watch especially in the big outfield that is Comerica Park.

I think he will have good numbers with the bat. At worst he will have similar numbers to what he had last season. The hope is that his numbers will see a nice climb as he is starting to get into his prime, at least in his MLB career. I don’t worry too much about his age of 29 because really that isn’t old for an outfielder.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

Weaknesses

Cespedes major weakness that is my biggest problem with him is he swings at terrible pitches and ends up striking out a lot. In 2014 Cespedes only walked 35 times, while striking out 128 times. That is not a productive hitter or what a guy that you are paying $10 million dollars for.

Like I’ve said with other hitters who are not the best at picking pitches I think being around Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez will help him. Those are two great hitters that can help him be more selective of his pitches and he can be the consistent power hitter like he was when he was playing in the Cuban leagues.

Strengths

He has the ability to being a great player that can help his team. He has some real power and with the right teaching by players who have been in the league a lot longer, he can take Major League baseball by the reins and be one of the future power hitters in the game.