When I hear the name Yoenis Cespedes, I am not sure whether to think about Sidd Finch, the fictional character in George Plimpton article from Sports Illustrated long ago that has to rank as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, April Fool's Day joke of all time, or Roy Hobbs, the Robert Redford character in "The Natural."
Hey, we all know Cespedes is a workout warrior, but this isn't the NFL Draft. You have to hit. The former Cuban national star made his debut in the Dominican Winter League Thursday and whiffed three times. He was also hit by a pitch. Not exactly the stuff of "Wonder Boy."
I am surprised his representatives have him playing in this league. It can only hurt him if he doesn't start driving the ball. Scouts I've talked from organizations other than the Tigers (they are reportedly interested) have told me there are real concerns about Cespedes making consistent contact with major league pitching.
And he's not a developmental project. He is 26. He is also asking for a zillion dollars. So he's got a 45-inch vertical leap. It's not going to help him hit.
Cespedes could pan out. I'd say at this point, however, the odds are against it.