(670 The Score) As he begins his second year of baseball in the United States, White Sox outfielder Yoelqui Cespedes has his eyes on making the team’s 26-man roster.
Cespedes, 24, defected from Cuba and then officially joined the White Sox on the international signing market in January 2021. He ascended up to Double-A in 2021, when he hit .285 with eight homers, 27 RBIs and an .813 OPS in 72 games across multiple levels.
“My goal is not to just get to the major leagues this year and be demoted,” Cespedes said. “I want to get there and stay there. That's the plan. That is where my focus is right now. That is why I am working so hard to accomplish that. That is the mindset right now.”
Cespedes’ focus now is cutting down on his swing-and-miss rate – he struck out in 27.8% of his plate appearances in 2021 – and improving his defense. Whether he can showcase more discipline at the plate will go a long way toward determining his path forward, White Sox assistant general manager and player development head Chris Getz said.
“I would say that really being under control in the batter's box and being more selective,” Getz said of Cespedes’ hurdle to reach the big leagues. “There are certain types of pitches he tends to chase and even miss. We need to tighten his focus a little bit, keep him under control.”
Cespedes views White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, a fellow Cuba native, as a source of inspiration, and Cespedes has leaned on Abreu since joining the White Sox.
“You just need to keep working hard on the things you need to know,” Cespedes said of the advice that Abreu gave him. “You need to work hard on the things that are going to put you in a good position and give you success.
“When he told me about working hard, I agreed with him and applied that because in sport and in regular life you are going to go through good and bad moments. The thing that is going to keep you moving forward is that hard work. That is where you are going to find the tools to keep moving forward.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.