Dayán Viciedo

Dayán Viciedo Pérez (born March 10, 1989)[3] 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.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Viciedo and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.
Dayán Viciedo
Viciedo with the Chunichi Dragons in 2022
Chunichi Dragons – No. 66
Outfielder/First baseman
Born: (1989-03-10) March 10, 1989
Remedios, Villa Clara Province, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: June 20, 2010, for the Chicago White Sox
NPB: March 26, 2016, for the Chunichi Dragons
MLB statistics
(through 2014)
Batting average.254
Home runs66
Runs batted in211
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.288
Home runs138
Runs batted in547
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Viciedo entered Cuba's National Series at age 15 for Villa Clara,[4][5] and was often compared to Cuban legend Omar Linares, his idol.[6]

Viciedo struggled in his first season in the national series, hitting only .243 through the season's first 50 games.[7] However, in his second season, at age sixteen, he hit .337 with 14 home runs.[8] Viciedo was selected to Cuba's provisional 60-player roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic,[7] but was not included in the final team.[9] 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.[10][11] 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.[12]

Minor leagues

Viciedo began the 2009 season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League. During the season, he hit .280 with 12 home runs and 78 RBIs.[3]

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.[3]

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[3] before being called up by the White Sox on August 26, 2011 because of an injury to Carlos Quentin.[13]

Chicago White Sox
Viciedo with the Chicago White Sox in 2012

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 12 December 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

References
  1. 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. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  2. "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. "Dayan Viciedo Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  4. Rogers, Phil (February 25, 2009). "Chicago White Sox Cuban prospect Dayan Viciedo: How good will he be?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  5. Rojas, Enrique (November 21, 2008). "White Sox sign Viciedo to major league deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  6. Gonzales, Mark (February 20, 2009). "White Sox's Dayan Viciedo connects with Cuban teammates, and ball in batting practice". Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  7. Singer, Tom (2006-02-12). "Youth no obstacle for Cuba's Viciedo". MLB.com. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
  8. "2005–06 Regular season batting statistics". Archived from the original on 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
  9. Wendel, Tim (March 5, 2006). "Cuba's ninth-inning gamble". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  10. Merkin, Scott (September 30, 2012). "Ramirez, Viciedo learning from fellow Cuban Minoso". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  11. "Top Cuban baseball player defects to United States". Reuters. June 9, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  12. Merkin, Scott (2008-12-12). "Viciedo's four-year pact finalized". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  13. Padilla, Doug (August 27, 2011). "White Sox put Carlos Quentin on DL". espn.go.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  14. "Dayan Viciedo Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  15. Padilla, Doug (April 20, 2013). "Dayan Viciedo to DL with left oblique strain". espn.go.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  16. "White Sox agree to 1-year deal with OF Viciedo". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  17. "White Sox agree to $2M deal with Gordon Beckham, cut Dayan Viciedo". Fox Sports. Associated Press. January 28, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  18. Gleeman, Aaron (February 4, 2015). "White Sox release Dayan Viciedo, eat $733,000 after failing to find a trade". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  19. Chisholm, Gregor (March 1, 2015). "Blue Jays sign Viciedo to Minor League deal". Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  20. "Blue Jays sign Dayan Viciedo". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 1, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  21. Singh, David (March 31, 2015). "Blue Jays grant release to OF Dayan Viciedo". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  22. Gleeman, Aaron (June 12, 2015). "A's sign former White Sox outfielder Dayan Viciedo". hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  23. Wilmoth, Charlie (August 1, 2015). "White Sox re-sign outfielder Dayan Viciedo". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  24. "Dragons part ways with veteran infielder Luna". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  25. "中日ビシエド 史上初の開幕から３戦連続本塁打 (Japanese)". Nikkan Sports. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  26. "出場者・マツダオールスターズ 2016 (Players: Mazda All Stars 2016)". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  27. "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" [Chunichi's Viciedo gets first Best 9: "I'm very satisfied"]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  28. "ビシエド、初のベストナイン 「ファンの応援のおかげ」" [Viciedo's first Best 9 "It due to the fans"]. Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). 2018-11-26. Archived from the original on 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  29. "【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）" [Chunichi: Last year's average and hit leader Viciedo arrives in Okinawa "Make no mistake, this year something good is going to happen"]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  30. "Seibu leads way with six selections to Best Nine team". The Japan Times Online. 2018-11-26. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  31. "中日・ビシエド、３年総額１１億円契約" [Chunichi: Viciedo gets 3 years, ¥1,100,000,000]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  32. @JonHeyman (2018-12-10). "Dayán Viciedo, ex of the white sox, signed a 3-year deal with chunichi of the Japan League. Believed to be for $10M" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. @NPB_Reddit (27 August 2021). "Chunichi Dragons hitter Dayan Viciedo got his 450th RBI as a Dragons player, giving him the most career RBI for non…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  34. @NPB_Reddit (24 September 2021). "Chunichi Dragons hitter Dayan Viciedo got career hit #766 as a Dragon, passing the record he held with current hitt…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  35. @NPB_Reddit (1 December 2021). "The Chunichi Dragons and Dayan Viciedo have agreed to a new 3 year contract starting in 2022 #npb" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. "[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". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
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