Dayán Viciedo Explained

Dayán Viciedo
Team:Chunichi Dragons
Number:66
Position:Outfielder/First baseman
Birth Date:10 March 1989
Birth Place:Remedios, Villa Clara Province, Cuba
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:June 20
Debutyear:2010
Debutteam:Chicago White Sox
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:March 26
Debut2year:2016
Debut2team:Chunichi Dragons
Statyear:2014
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.254
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:66
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:211
Stat2year:2023 season
Stat2league:NPB
Stat21label:Batting average
Stat21value:.288
Stat22label:Home runs
Stat22value:138
Stat23label:Runs batted in
Stat23value:547
Teams:
Awards:

Dayán Viciedo Pérez (born March 10, 1989) is a Cuban professional baseball infielder for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox.

Early life

Viciedo entered Cuba's National Series at age 15 for Villa Clara,[3] [4] and was often compared to Cuban legend Omar Linares, his idol.[5]

Viciedo struggled in his first season in the national series, hitting only .243 through the season's first 50 games.[6] However, in his second season, at age sixteen, he hit .337 with 14 home runs.[7] Viciedo was selected to Cuba's provisional 60-player roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic, but was not included in the final team.[8] On May 20, 2008, Viciedo defected from Cuba with his family on a boat bound for Mexico. Once in Mexico he crossed the border to the United States and went to Miami where he was reunited with some of his family.[9] [10] He was approved as a declared free agent by Major League Baseball on November 10, 2008.

Professional career

Viciedo agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 12, 2008. The contract included a $4 million signing bonus, and paid $1 million in 2009, $1.25 million in 2010 and 2011, as well as $2.5 million in 2012. Signing with the White Sox reunited him with fellow Cuban countryman, Alexei Ramírez.[11]

Minor leagues

Viciedo began the season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League. During the season, he hit .280 with 12 home runs and 78 RBIs.[12]

Viciedo was batting .290, with 14 home runs and 34 RBI in 238 at bats with Triple-A Charlotte Knights before getting called up by the Chicago White Sox on June 17, 2010. He finished the season batting .274 with 20 home runs and 47 RBI in 343 at-bats.[12]

Viciedo moved to right field at the beginning of the 2011 season in an attempt to get him up to the Major League level faster. He was batting .296, with 20 home runs and 78 RBI in 452 at bats with Triple-A Charlotte Knights[12] before being called up by the White Sox on August 26, 2011 because of an injury to Carlos Quentin.[13]

Chicago White Sox

Viciedo joined the White Sox for their 2009 Spring Training, but did not make the starting roster and was sent to Double-A Birmingham Barons to open the 2009 season. He was invited to Spring Training again in 2010. On June 17, 2010, it was announced that Viciedo would be called up. In his first Major League game against the Washington Nationals he recorded his first hit en route to a White Sox 6–3 win. Viciedo recorded his first Major League home run on July 5, 2010 against Scott Kazmir of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and two days later, on July 7, recorded his first career double against Joe Saunders of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2010, he played in 38 games and batted .308 with 5 home runs and 13 RBI.[14] In 2011, Viciedo appeared in 29 games and hit .255 with 1 home run and 6 RBI.[14] He would take on a starting role in 2012, and hit career-highs with games played (147), home runs (25), and RBI (78) while recording a .255 batting average.[14]

In 2013, Viciedo suffered an oblique strain in April that required a stint on the 15-day disabled list.[15] In 124 games he would hit .265 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI.[14] 2014 would see Viciedo play in 145 games, batting a career-low .231 with 21 home runs and 58 RBI.[14] He signed a one-year contract worth $4.4 million with the White Sox on January 12, 2015, to avoid arbitration.[16] However, he was designated for assignment on January 28,[17] and released on February 4.[18]

Toronto Blue Jays

On March 1, 2015, Viciedo signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He would have earned $2.5 million if he made the 25-man roster,[19] [20] however he requested and was granted his release on March 31.[21]

Oakland Athletics

On June 12, 2015, Viciedo signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics.[22] He was released on July 30 after hitting just .221 in 113 at bats for the Athletics' Triple–A club, the Nashville Sounds.

Second stint with the White Sox

On August 1, 2015, Viciedo signed a minor league deal to return to the White Sox.[23]

Chunichi Dragons

On December 1, 2015, Viciedo signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Chunichi Dragons.[24] Viciedo started his Japanese career hitting a Japanese record for a foreign player, with three home runs in the first three opening games against the Hanshin Tigers at the Kyocera Dome.[25] Viciedo was selected for Central League in the 2016 NPB All Star Game as back-up at first base.[26]

In the 2018 NPB season, Viciedo slashed .348/.419/.555 with 26 homers to claim the batting average and hits title leading to selection in the Central League Best 9.[27] [28] [29] [30] On December 12, 2018, it was announced Viciedo had signed a new 3-year deal with the Dragons with a total value of ¥1.1 billion ($9.9 million).[31] [32]

On August 27, 2021, Viciedo reached 450 RBI in NPB, giving him the most RBI for a non-Japanese player in Chunichi Dragons history.[33] On September 26, Viciedo collected his 765th hit for the Dragons, passing Alonzo Powell for the most hits by a non-Japanese player in club history.[34] On December 1, Viciedo agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Dragons.[35]

On September 24, 2023, Viciedo collected his 1,000th NPB hit with an infield single off of Hiroto Saiki of the Hanshin Tigers. He became the 317th player in NPB history to achieve the feat, as well as the only foreign player in Dragons history to do so.[36]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 一般社団法人日本野球機構 . 「マイナビオールスターゲーム2022」第1戦 表彰選手 | NPB.jp 日本野球機構 . Npb.jp . 2022-08-23.
  2. Web site: 中日ビシエド1イニング2本塁打、右に左に豪打炸裂 - 野球 : 日刊スポーツ .
  3. News: Rogers. Phil. Chicago White Sox Cuban prospect Dayan Viciedo: How good will he be?. March 1, 2015. Chicago Tribune. February 25, 2009.
  4. News: Rojas. Enrique. White Sox sign Viciedo to major league deal. March 1, 2015. ESPN.com. November 21, 2008.
  5. News: Gonzales. Mark. White Sox's Dayan Viciedo connects with Cuban teammates, and ball in batting practice. March 1, 2015. February 20, 2009.
  6. Web site: Youth no obstacle for Cuba's Viciedo. Singer, Tom. MLB.com. 2006-02-12. 2006-10-10.
  7. Web site: 2005–06 Regular season batting statistics. 2006-10-10. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060106052106/http://www.inder.co.cu/indernet/competencias/sinfo/SNacional45/beio1al1.htm. 2006-01-06.
  8. News: Wendel. Tim. Cuba's ninth-inning gamble. March 1, 2015. Los Angeles Times. March 5, 2006.
  9. News: Merkin. Scott. Ramirez, Viciedo learning from fellow Cuban Minoso. March 1, 2015. MLB.com. September 30, 2012. April 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110552/http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/38572934/. dead.
  10. News: Top Cuban baseball player defects to United States. March 1, 2015. Reuters. June 9, 2008.
  11. Web site: Viciedo's four-year pact finalized. Merkin, Scott. MLB.com. 2008-12-12. 2008-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716150137/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081212&content_id=3715285&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws. 2011-07-16. dead.
  12. Web site: Dayan Viciedo Minor League Statistics & History. Baseball-Reference. February 28, 2015.
  13. Web site: White Sox put Carlos Quentin on DL. Padilla. Doug. ESPN. August 27, 2011. February 28, 2015.
  14. Web site: Dayan Viciedo Statistics & History. Baseball-Reference. February 28, 2015.
  15. Web site: Dayan Viciedo to DL with left oblique strain. Padilla. Doug. ESPN. April 20, 2013. February 28, 2015.
  16. News: White Sox agree to 1-year deal with OF Viciedo. January 13, 2015. Associated Press. ESPN.com. January 12, 2015.
  17. News: White Sox agree to $2M deal with Gordon Beckham, cut Dayan Viciedo. March 1, 2015. Associated Press. Fox Sports. January 28, 2015.
  18. News: Gleeman. Aaron. White Sox release Dayan Viciedo, eat $733,000 after failing to find a trade. March 1, 2015. NBC Sports. February 4, 2015.
  19. News: Chisholm. Gregor. Blue Jays sign Viciedo to Minor League deal. March 1, 2015. March 1, 2015. March 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150303152200/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/110779122/toronto-blue-jays-agree-to-minor-league-deal-with-outfielder-dayan-viciedo. dead.
  20. News: Blue Jays sign Dayan Viciedo. March 1, 2015. Associated Press. ESPN.com. March 1, 2015.
  21. Web site: Blue Jays grant release to OF Dayan Viciedo . David . Singh . sportsnet.ca . March 31, 2015 . March 31, 2015 .
  22. Web site: A's sign former White Sox outfielder Dayan Viciedo. Gleeman. Aaron. hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. June 12, 2015. June 12, 2015.
  23. Web site: White Sox re-sign outfielder Dayan Viciedo. Wilmoth. Charlie. MLBTradeRumors.com. August 1, 2015. August 1, 2015.
  24. Web site: Dragons part ways with veteran infielder Luna. japantimes.co.jp. February 6, 2016.
  25. Web site: 中日ビシエド 史上初の開幕から3戦連続本塁打 (Japanese) . https://web.archive.org/web/20160402081841/http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/1623089.html . live . April 2, 2016 . Nikkan Sports . March 31, 2016 .
  26. Web site: 出場者・マツダオールスターズ 2016 (Players: Mazda All Stars 2016). Nippon Professional Baseball. July 6, 2016.
  27. News: 中日ビシエドが初ベストナイン「大満足のシーズン」 - プロ野球 : 日刊スポーツ . 2018-11-26 . Nikkan Sports . 2019-01-30 . ja . Chunichi's Viciedo gets first Best 9: "I'm very satisfied".
  28. News: ビシエド、初のベストナイン 「ファンの応援のおかげ」 . 2018-11-26 . Chunichi Sports . 2019-01-30 . ja . Viciedo's first Best 9 "It due to the fans" . 2019-01-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190130110259/http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/dragons/news/201811/CK2018112702000101.html . dead .
  29. News: 【中日】昨季首位打者&最多安打のビシエドが沖縄入り「間違いなくいいことが起きる年だね」(スポーツ報知) . 2019-01-28 . Sports Hochi . 2019-01-30 . ja . Chunichi: Last year's average and hit leader Viciedo arrives in Okinawa "Make no mistake, this year something good is going to happen".
  30. News: Seibu leads way with six selections to Best Nine team . 2018-11-26 . The Japan Times Online . 2019-01-30 . en-US . 0447-5763.
  31. News: 中日・ビシエド、3年総額11億円契約 . 2018-12-12 . Sankei Sports . 2019-01-29 . ja-JP . Chunichi: Viciedo gets 3 years, ¥1,100,000,000 .
  32. 1071887850419847168. JonHeyman. Dayán Viciedo, ex of the white sox, signed a 3-year deal with chunichi of the Japan League. Believed to be for $10M. . 2018-12-10 . en.
  33. 1431257745076801538. NPB_Reddit. Chunichi Dragons hitter Dayan Viciedo got his 450th RBI as a Dragons player, giving him the most career RBI for non…. 27 August 2021.
  34. 1441410942806364173. NPB_Reddit. Chunichi Dragons hitter Dayan Viciedo got career hit #766 as a Dragon, passing the record he held with current hitt…. 24 September 2021.
  35. 1466048138490236938. NPB_Reddit. The Chunichi Dragons and Dayan Viciedo have agreed to a new 3 year contract starting in 2022 #npb. 1 December 2021.
  36. Web site: [Chongichi] Bisiedo, NPB 1000 hits in total! I decided with an infield hit in the 9th third base assault! The first 4 players of the team's assistant]. September 27, 2023. news.yahoo.co.jp. en.