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Meet Yoenis Cespedes, new Red Sox outfielder

USA Today Sports

The Red Sox acquired outfielder Yoenis Cespedes in a trade on Thursday. Here’s a look at the player coming to Boston in exchange for pitcher Jon Lester, outfielder Jonny Gomes, and a draft pick.

■  His name is pronounced, according to the Oakland A’s, as follows: yo-EHN-ess SES-peh-des.

■  Cespedes, 28, is the two-time defending Home Run Derby champion at the All-Star Game, winning in 2013 at CitiField in New York and again this summer at Target Field in Minneapolis.

■  Cespedes is under contract through 2015. He signed a four-year, $36 million deal in 2012 that will pay him $10.5 million in both 2014 and 2015.

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■  A Cuban defector, he signed as an amateur free agent in 2012 and made his debut in March of 2012.

■  In his rookie season in 2012, he batted a team-leading .292 with 23 home runs and 82 RBIs. In his second season in 2013, had .240 batting average with 26 home runs and 80 RBIs.

■  Cespedes is batting .256 in 2014 with 17 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 28 walks. He has a .303 OBP and .464 OPS.

■  Cespedes amazed the baseball world in June with a throw from left field when, after bobbling a liner by Mike Trout of the Angels, Cespedes recovered the ball and fired all the way to the plate to throw out Howie Kendrick trying to score.

Watch the play here:

■  Cespedes played in Cuba’s Serie Nacional for eight seasons and tied for the league lead in home runs in his final season. He then moved to the Dominican Republic following the 2010-11 season.

■  Played for Cuba in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

■  In 2011, he played for Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Winter League.

■  His mother, Estela Milanes Salazar, pitched for Cuba’s softball team in the 2000 Olympics.


Follow Matt Pepin on Twitter at @mattpep15.

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