Cuba’s Yoenis Cespedes Hits Miami

HAVANA TIMES, Feb 8 — Cuban baseball player Yoenis Cespedes, currently the most contested Cuban prospect expected to sign in the Major Leagues, arrived yesterday in Miami from the Dominican Republic, reported the Café Fuerte website.

“It will be good to play here, where there are many Cubans who support me a lot,” said the player upon his arrival at the Miami International Airport. “I have hopes of playing for the Marlins,” he added.

Cespedes, 26, will meet today with executives of the Marlins to learn about a contract offer from that Miami team.

It’s expected that the player will stay in the US for at least a week to hold meetings with other executives who are interested in his services, for which he could eventually receive upwards of US $25 million.

Cespedes, who set the homerun record in last year’s 2010-2011 season in Cuba, defected to the Dominican Republic, where he now has permanent residence.