Truth & Rumors > MLB

Cuban star losing luster?

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Hyped by his agent as having walked away from a chance to become "the Babe Ruth of Cuba," 19-year-old third baseman Dayan Viciedo is as much a project as a high-level prospect. Viciedo, a free agent who is being pursued by the White Sox and other organizations, was an all-star at 16 in Cuba's highest level, the Serie Nacional, but had gained weight and reportedly gone backward before defecting to the United States last May. He has light-tower power and a strong arm, but his tools are raw and his commitment was questioned during his last two seasons in Cuba. Peter Bjarkman, an expert on Cuban baseball, has described Viciedo as an underachiever with a poor work ethic. Texas Rangers broadcaster Eric Nadel, who travels regularly to Cuba, says Viciedo was "supposed to be the next Omar Linares when he was 14 or 15, but nobody would make that sort of comparison anymore or even close to it." Nadel says Viciedo was not among Cuba's top third basemen when he defected. The White Sox are considered a front-runner to sign Viciedo because they have Cubans Alexei Ramirez and Jose Contreras on the roster. Those two and Viciedo are represented by agent Jaime Torres.

Chicago Tribune

Ken Williams, Rich Pilling/Getty Images Ken Williams, Rich Pilling/Getty Images
November 10, 2008  07:36 AM ET

Sounds a little like Miguel Cabrera, though a little earlier than his short-lived problems were. Ozzie's passion is either gonna light a fire in him or it's gonna push him out of baseball for good. It could get interesting...

November 10, 2008  08:41 AM ET

Is this the kid that wasd too old to pitch int he LL world series

November 10, 2008  08:53 AM ET

Riddle me this, how many times have the so-called "Next Babe Ruth" or "Next Jordan" EVER worked out?

November 10, 2008  08:58 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

Riddle me this, how many times have the so-called "Next Babe Ruth" or "Next Jordan" EVER worked out?

Yea I have to agree. If I have to hear one more person say Khalil Greene is the "Next Rey Ordonez", I'll ****! I'll ****!!!!!!

November 10, 2008  09:23 AM ET

maybe he's the next Scott Brosius.

November 10, 2008  11:03 AM ET

"Dayan Viciedo... had gained weight...an underachiever with a poor work ethic."

Wow, this guy sounds great.

November 10, 2008  11:05 AM ET

A fat lazy FA with decling skills?..... he should be talking to the Dodgers and looking for $30M for three years....

Comment #8 has been removed
November 10, 2008  12:30 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

A fat lazy FA with decling skills?..... he should be talking to the Dodgers and looking for $30M for three years....

Agreed.

November 10, 2008  12:38 PM ET

well, if he signs with the chisox...lets hope the "too fat" critics will be as wrong about him as they were about ramirez being "too thin" and not contributing to the white sox at all. not alot of scouts gave Ramirez a chance to even make the big league roster...

November 10, 2008  12:52 PM ET
QUOTE(#10):

well, if he signs with the chisox...lets hope the "too fat" critics will be as wrong about him as they were about ramirez being "too thin" and not contributing to the white sox at all. not alot of scouts gave Ramirez a chance to even make the big league roster...

A blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. I'm sure this guy's too fat like Andruw Jones is too fat. Would you like him on the Sox?

November 10, 2008  01:01 PM ET

Good luck with all that, White Sox fans!

November 10, 2008  01:38 PM ET

Wow, a Royals Fan! I didnt think they existed anymore since George Brett retired! I guess all of those stadium pictures at Kauffman aren't photo-shopped...

November 10, 2008  01:55 PM ET
QUOTE(#13):

Wow, a Royals Fan! I didnt think they existed anymore since George Brett retired! I guess all of those stadium pictures at Kauffman aren't photo-shopped...

Funny, I was thinking the same thing about Minnesota. Sure we've all heard rumors of its existence....but has anyone actually seen Minnesota? Its like the Loch Ness monster or Canada.... who really knows...... A&E should do a special on this type of thing... Urban Legends...myth or hoax?

November 10, 2008  03:07 PM ET

I neva rike it when Cuban prayas roose dea rusta. Especiary one wit right towa powa who suppose to be da nex Oma Rinares.

November 10, 2008  04:18 PM ET

Is this the kid that wasd too old to pitch int he LL world series

no that was danny almonte, he is still pitching in the minors and E:60 did a report on him and another kid from that LL World Series

November 10, 2008  07:11 PM ET

No, No Sunny, Minnesota exists...I've seen it. Canada though, is a complete myth. Like rational Yankee fans...

November 10, 2008  10:35 PM ET
QUOTE(#17):

No, No Sunny, Minnesota exists...I've seen it. Canada though, is a complete myth. Like rational Yankee fans...

Or indoor plumbing in Bemidji ...

November 10, 2008  11:13 PM ET
QUOTE(#18):

Or indoor plumbing in Bemidji ...

ZING!!!

Hey wait a minute, I used to live in Rochester!

 
November 10, 2008  11:58 PM ET
QUOTE(#19):

ZING!!!Hey wait a minute, I used to live in Rochester!

Was it the tater-tot hot dish or the frog's eye salad that finally drove you back into the arms of modern society?

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