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Cuban 1B Dayán Viciedo signs with Yokohama DeNA BayStars

 David Polli - World Baseball Network  |    Jul 8th, 2025 10:30am EDT

Cuban first baseman Dayán Viciedo has agreed to a deal with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars for the remainder of the Nippon Professional Baseball season.

Viciedo, 36, has played 38 games with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol this year. He has been productive at the plate, posting a .821 OPS and hitting eight home runs.

Born in Remedios, Cuba, Viciedo began his baseball career in Cuba’s Serie Nacional de Béisbol with Villa Clara before defecting to the United States in 2008 at age 19. He signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on Dec. 12, 2008, and made his MLB debut on June 17, 2010.

Viciedo played for the White Sox until 2014, compiling a career 97 OPS+ and recording two seasons with more than 20 home runs during that span. 

After being released, he spent 2015 in the minor league systems of the White Sox and Athletics before deciding to pursue a career in Japan.

If his stint with the BayStars resembles his first run in NPB with the Dragons, baseball fans are in for a treat.

In 2016, Viciedo signed with the Chunichi Dragons and played there until 2024. Viciedo hit 139 home runs in nine NPB seasons, won the Central League batting title in 2018, is a two-time NPB Gold Glove winner, and a three-time All-Star.

After a brief time away in Mexico, Viciedo is back in Japan and will be an addition to the 37-38 BayStars squad for their playoff push.

WBN NPB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/japan/

Photo: WikiCommons

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David Polli - World Baseball Network