Author

My life has changed in many ways, both on an economic and personal level. All major league players are accorded the respect they deserve. In Cuba, it was not that way. National team players were not respected. The treatment was not adequate.

From Yoenis Cespedes

In Cuba, I didn't even have a bicycle.

From Yoenis Cespedes

I grew up on the softball field. Every day I would take my glove and my bat with me.

From Yoenis Cespedes

I had a chance to play for the Cuban national team during the 2009 World Baseball Classic, but at the time I never thought about leaving Cuba.

From Yoenis Cespedes

Despite the situation in Cuba, I had a chance to play on the national team; and compared to other baseball players and other people in Cuba, I had the opportunity to live at a level that was not very high class but in the middle.

From Yoenis Cespedes

Sometimes I rush my swing because I am so anxious to play well. In Cuba, the quality of the pitching is not the same as it is here. There you might find one or two pitchers at 94 or 95 mph. Here, every day I find several, and each pitcher who comes along throws his hardest stuff.

From Yoenis Cespedes

In Cuba, I would start the first two months hitting around .260 with three or four home runs. After the first half of the season, I would get hot, and that's when I would have my best results.

From Yoenis Cespedes

Yoenis Cespedes

Notable Quotes

Authors with Similar Views

Brin-Jonathan Butler

Rafael Palmeiro

William Levy

Alberto Juantorena

Brit Marling

Authors with Opposing Views

Asdrubal Cabrera

Bob Uecker

Don Mattingly

Elian Gonzalez

Pablo Sandoval