1. Overview
Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez (born June 17, 1986) is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who plays for the Alazanes de Granma of the Cuban National Series. He bats right-handed and throws right-handed. He has had a distinguished career both domestically in Cuba and internationally, as well as in professional leagues in Mexico and Japan. In Japan, he notably played for the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Despaigne is recognized for his powerful hitting, breaking multiple home run records in the Cuban National Series, and achieving significant success in Japan, including multiple Japan Series championships and individual batting titles. He has also been a key member of the Cuban national team, earning numerous medals in major international tournaments.
2. Early Life and Background
Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez was born on June 17, 1986, in Palma Soriano, a municipality located in the Santiago de Cuba Province of Cuba. His early life and formative years in Cuba laid the foundation for his development as a prominent baseball player.
3. Professional Career
Alfredo Despaigne's professional baseball career spans multiple leagues and teams, showcasing his consistent power and offensive capabilities.
3.1. Cuban National Series (First Stint)
Despaigne began his professional journey in the Cuban National Series with the Alazanes de Granma. He quickly established himself as one of the league's most dominant hitters. In 2009, he had an exceptional season, breaking the Cuban home run record while batting .373 with 97 RBIs. His outstanding performance led to him being named the Cuban National Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) for that season. He continued his strong play in 2010, ranking among the top hitters in various statistical categories. In 2012, he set a new Cuban league regular-season home run record by hitting 35 home runs. His impressive form in the Cuban National Series also earned him a key role on the Cuban National Team.
3.2. Mexican League
On June 21, 2013, Alfredo Despaigne signed with the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. During his tenure with the team, he played in 33 games, achieving a batting line of .338/.364/.564 with 8 home runs and 24 RBIs. He continued his performance into 2014, playing in 20 games for Campeche where he batted .346/.407/.603, contributing 5 home runs and 15 RBIs.
3.3. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
Despaigne's career in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) was a significant chapter, where he played for both the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, becoming one of the league's most feared sluggers.
3.3.1. Chiba Lotte Marines
On July 15, 2014, Alfredo Despaigne joined the Chiba Lotte Marines of the NPB. He made his debut on July 29, 2014. In his initial season with the Marines, he appeared in 45 games, where he batted .311 with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs. Following this successful first year, on December 8, the Marines re-signed him to a two-year contract. In the 2015 season, Despaigne played in 103 regular season games, finishing with a .258 batting average, 18 home runs, and 62 RBIs. His performance continued in the 2016 season, where he played in 134 games, batting .280 with 24 home runs and 92 RBIs. On December 20, 2016, it was announced that the team would not extend a contract offer, and the following day he became a free agent in NPB.
3.3.2. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Alfredo Despaigne signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the NPB on February 11, 2017, commencing a multi-season tenure that brought him significant success.
In the 2017 season, Despaigne played in 136 regular season games, recording a batting average of .262, with 35 home runs and 103 RBIs. His outstanding performance led to him being honored as the Pacific League home run leader, the Pacific League RBI leader, and being selected for the Pacific League Best Nine Award at the NPB Awards 2017.
During the 2018 season, Despaigne appeared in 116 regular season games, finishing with a batting average of .238, 29 home runs, and 74 RBIs. He was also selected to the 2018 NPB All-Star game.
In 2019, Despaigne played in 130 regular season games, achieving a batting average of .259, 36 home runs, and 88 RBIs. He was recognized with the Japan Series Outstanding Player Award in the 2019 Japan Series. He became a free agent on December 2, 2019.
On January 22, 2020, Despaigne signed a new two-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. However, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to leave Cuba until July 19. In the 2020 season, he played in 25 games, batting .224 with 6 home runs and 12 RBIs. Despite the limited regular season play, he made a significant impact in the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants. He contributed to the team's fourth consecutive Japan Series championship by scoring 6 RBIs in a single game, including a grand slam in Game 2 on November 22, which equaled the existing Japan Series record for RBIs in a game.
The 2021 season saw Despaigne in a slump, with a .220 batting average, one home run, and six RBIs in 27 games. He was removed from the first team registration on May 3. On May 24, he departed for the United States to join the Cuba national baseball team for the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers. He returned to Japan on June 9, completed the mandatory quarantine period, and rejoined the team on August 1. On August 21, he hit his first home run since the opening game against the Chiba Lotte Marines. He regained his form in the second half of the season, raising his batting average to .271 by September 30. He concluded the regular season with a .264 batting average, 10 home runs, and 41 RBIs in 80 games. Following the season, he re-signed with the Hawks for an estimated salary of 270.00 M JPY.
In the 2022 season, Despaigne did not make the opening game due to a right ankle injury sustained in the Cuban League. He joined the team on May 17 and hit his first home run of the season on June 3 during interleague play against the Chunichi Dragons. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was again removed from the first team registration on June 28. He returned to the team on July 13 and hit a two-run homer the following day against the Orix Buffaloes. Despite frequent absences, he finished the regular season with a .269 batting average, 14 home runs, and 40 RBIs in 89 games. He became a free agent after the 2022 season.
On May 31, 2023, Despaigne re-signed with the Hawks. However, he only joined the team in July and was limited to 20 appearances for the season. On December 1, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks announced his release.
3.4. Cuban National Series (Second Stint)
After his career in Japan, Alfredo Despaigne returned to play for the Alazanes de Granma in the Cuban National Series. He played a crucial role in Granma's victory in the Cuban National Series in 2017, following his initial departure from the Chiba Lotte Marines. In 2024, he also played for the Alazanes de Granma in the Cuban National Series.
4. International Career
Alfredo Despaigne has had a distinguished international career representing the Cuban National Baseball Team in numerous major tournaments, earning a reputation as a clutch performer on the global stage.
4.1. Major International Tournament Participation
Despaigne earned a key role on Cuba's National Team after an impressive season in 2007. His significant participation in major international competitions includes:
- 2004 World Junior Baseball Championship
- 2007 World Port Tournament
- 2007 Baseball World Cup
- 2008 Summer Olympics
- 2009 World Baseball Classic
- 2010 World University Baseball Championship
- 2010 Intercontinental Cup
- 2011 Pan American Games
- 2012 exhibition games against Chinese Taipei and CPBL All-Stars
- 2012 exhibition games against Japan
- 2013 World Baseball Classic
- 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games
- 2015 Pan American Games
- 2015 WBSC Premier12
- 2017 World Baseball Classic
- 2023 World Baseball Classic
4.2. International Tournament Medals and Honors
Alfredo Despaigne has garnered several medals while representing the Cuban national team:
| Medal | Competition | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | Summer Olympics | 2008 | Beijing |
| Silver | Baseball World Cup | 2007 | Taipei |
| Silver | Baseball World Cup | 2009 | Nettuno |
| Gold | Intercontinental Cup | 2010 | Taichung |
| Bronze | Pan American Games | 2011 | Guadalajara |
| Bronze | Pan American Games | 2015 | Toronto |
| Gold | Central American and Caribbean Games | 2014 | Veracruz |
5. Awards and Personal Honors
Alfredo Despaigne has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his professional and international baseball career, highlighting his consistent excellence as a player:
- 4× Japan Series champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
- 3× NPB All-Star (2017, 2018, 2019)
- NPB All-Star MVP (2017)
- 2× Pacific League Best Nine Award (2017, 2019)
- Pacific League Home Run Leader (2017)
- Pacific League RBI Leader (2017)
- Japan Series Outstanding Player Award (2019)
- Cuban National Series MVP (2009)
- Best Hitter at the 2007 World Port Tournament
6. Legacy and Impact
Alfredo Despaigne's career has left a significant mark on both Cuban baseball and the international baseball scene. In Cuba, he is remembered as one of the most prolific power hitters in the history of the Cuban National Series, setting and breaking home run records and earning the league's MVP award. His consistent offensive production made him a cornerstone for the Alazanes de Granma throughout his domestic stints.
His transition to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) further solidified his legacy as a top-tier slugger. Despaigne's powerful hitting contributed significantly to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' dominance, leading them to four consecutive Japan Series championships. He consistently ranked among the league leaders in home runs and RBIs, earning individual accolades like the Pacific League home run and RBI titles, Best Nine awards, and an NPB All-Star MVP. His performance in Japan demonstrated the high caliber of Cuban baseball talent on a global stage.
Internationally, Despaigne has been a stalwart for the Cuban national team, participating in numerous major tournaments, including multiple World Baseball Classic editions and the Summer Olympics. His contributions helped Cuba secure various medals, including a silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and gold at the 2010 Intercontinental Cup and 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, reinforcing Cuba's strong tradition in international baseball. His career exemplifies a blend of domestic dominance and international success, establishing him as one of Cuba's most accomplished baseball players of his generation.