Yoán Moncada

Yoán Manuel Moncada Olivera (born May 27, 1995) is a Cuban professional baseball third baseman for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut for the Boston Red Sox in 2016, and was traded to the White Sox during the 2016–2017 offseason. He is one of the first active MLB players to represent the Cuban national team in international competition.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Moncada and the second or maternal family name is Olivera.
Yoán Moncada
Moncada with the Boston Red Sox in 2016
Chicago White Sox – No. 10
Third baseman
Born: (1995-05-27) May 27, 1995
Abreus, Cuba
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 2016, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.254
Home runs93
Runs batted in339
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Cuba
18U Baseball World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Taichung Team

Professional career

Elefantes de Cienfuegos

Moncada made his debut for Cienfuegos of the Cuban National Series in 2012.[1] In his two years with Cienfuegos he hit .277/.388/.380 with four home runs and 21 stolen bases. Moncada left Cuba in June 2014.[2] Before signing with the Red Sox, Moncada was a highly sought after Cuban free agent. He was seen as a generational, five-tool talent, being compared to the likes of Robinson Cano.[3]

Minor leagues
Moncada with the Salem Red Sox in 2016

On February 23, 2015, the Boston Red Sox reportedly agreed to terms with Moncada, for a signing bonus of $31.5 million.[4] The contract was finalized on March 12.[5] He made his professional debut with the Greenville Drive of the Class A South Atlantic League on May 18.[6] In the winter of 2015, he was consistently cited as one of the top prospects in the Red Sox system.

Entering the 2016 season, MLB.com ranked Moncada as the 7th best prospect in Major League Baseball.[7]

Boston Red Sox

Moncada was called up and made his major league debut on September 2, 2016, against the Oakland Athletics. In his first plate appearance, he walked and subsequently scored a run. He recorded his first major league hit the following day. Moncada finished the 2016 MLB season with a .211 batting average (4-for-19) with one RBI.[8]

Chicago White Sox
Moncada with the White Sox in 2019

On December 6, 2016, the Red Sox traded Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz to the Chicago White Sox for Chris Sale.[9]

Moncada began the 2017 season with the Charlotte Knights of the Class AAA International League. On July 19, 2017, he was called up after the trade of Todd Frazier to the New York Yankees. Later that day, he made his Chicago White Sox debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He worked a walk in his first at bat, against Kenta Maeda.[10]

On July 26, 2017, Moncada hit his first career major league home run off of Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs. On August 25, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to shin issues.[11] He played 54 games in 2017, finishing year with a .231 batting average, 8 home runs, and 22 RBIs.

In 2018, Moncada played 149 games, finishing with a .235 batting average, 32 doubles, 17 home runs, 61 RBIs, and struck out an MLB-leading 217 times. He had the lowest fielding percentage among major league second basemen, at .963.[12]

In the 2019 campaign, Moncada set career highs in numerous batting areas, such as hits (161), doubles (34), home runs (25), RBIs (79), and batting average (.315), among others, with his batting average ranking third in the American League. [13]

Overall, in 2020, Moncada batted .225 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 52 games.[14]

In 2021, Moncada batted .263 in 144 games hitting 14 home runs and 61 RBIs.[15]

For 2022, Moncada began the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. On May 9, Moncada was activated off the IL and made his season debut that day against the Cleveland Guardians going 1-for-4.

International career

Moncada was named to the Cuban national team for 2023 World Baseball Classic. Along with White Sox teammate Luis Robert Jr., he became the first active MLB player to be play for Cuba.[16] In the tournament, Moncada batted .435/.519/.739, with a team-leading 10 hits in 23 at-bats.[17]

Musical career

In 2021, Moncada recorded "Desastre Personal" with artists El Chacal and Lenier.[18]

References
  1. "Yoan Moncada: the New Cuban Baseball Wonder Boy?". oncubamagazine.com. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  2. "Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada cleared for free agency - ESPN". ESPN.com. November 15, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  3. Pescaro, Mike (April 6, 2015). "The Cost of Winning: How Yoan Moncada Could Be a Steal – NECN". Necn.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  4. "Red Sox land Cuban IF prospect Moncada". February 23, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  5. "Red Sox Sign Cuban Prospect Yoan Moncada To Minor League Contract (Photo)". March 13, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  6. "Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada debuts in Greenville". Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  7. "2016 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. MLB. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  8. "Yoan Moncada Register Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  9. Merkin, Scott (December 6, 2016). "White Sox get Moncada, 3 others for Sale". MLB.com. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  10. Merkin, Scott (July 19, 2017). "White Sox stacked for future; Moncada up". MLB.com. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  11. Adler, David. "Yoan Moncada goes on DL". MLB. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  12. "Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Second Basemen » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  13. "Major League Leaderboards » 2019 » Third Basemen » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  14. "Yoán Moncada Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  15. "Yoán Moncada 2021 Batting Game Logs". baseball-reference. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  16. James Wagner (March 9, 2023). "Cuba's W.B.C. Team Is Notable for Who Is There, and Who Isn't". The New York Times. The New York Times.
  17. "Stats - Cuba". MLB.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  18. Bumbaca, Chris (February 17, 2021). "Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada releases single 'Desastre Personal'". USA Today. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
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