Dayán Viciedo

Viciedo entered Cuba's National Series at age 15 for Villa Clara,{{cite news|last1=Rogers|first1=Phil|title=Chicago White Sox Cuban prospect Dayan Viciedo: How good will he be?|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-02-25/sports/0902240626_1_swings-unpolished-gem-practice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404051139/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-02-25/sports/0902240626_1_swings-unpolished-gem-practice|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2010|access-date=March 1, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|date=February 25, 2009}}{{cite news|last1=Rojas|first1=Enrique|title=White Sox sign Viciedo to major league deal|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3716458|access-date=March 1, 2015|work=ESPN.com|date=November 21, 2008}} and was often compared to Cuban legend Omar Linares, his idol.{{cite news|last1=Gonzales|first1=Mark|title=White Sox's Dayan Viciedo connects with Cuban teammates, and ball in batting practice|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-02-20/sports/0902190815_1_omar-linares-josh-fields-jose-contreras|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104921/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-02-20/sports/0902190815_1_omar-linares-josh-fields-jose-contreras|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|access-date=March 1, 2015|date=February 20, 2009}}

Viciedo struggled in his first season in the national series, hitting only .243 through the season's first 50 games.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060211&content_id=1310178&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

|title=Youth no obstacle for Cuba's Viciedo|author=Singer, Tom|work=MLB.com|date=2006-02-12|access-date=2006-10-10}} However, in his second season, at age sixteen, he hit .337 with 14 home runs.{{cite web|title=2005–06 Regular season batting statistics|url=http://www.inder.co.cu/indernet/competencias/sinfo/SNacional45/beio1al1.htm|access-date=2006-10-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106052106/http://www.inder.co.cu/indernet/competencias/sinfo/SNacional45/beio1al1.htm|archive-date=2006-01-06}} Viciedo was selected to Cuba's provisional 60-player roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic, but was not included in the final team.{{cite news|last1=Wendel|first1=Tim|title=Cuba's ninth-inning gamble|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-05-op-wendel5-story.html|access-date=March 1, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 5, 2006}}

On May 20, 2008, Viciedo defected from Cuba with his family on a boat bound for Mexico. Once in Mexico he crossed the border to the United States and went to Miami where he was reunited with some of his family.{{cite news|last1=Merkin|first1=Scott|title=Ramirez, Viciedo learning from fellow Cuban Minoso|url=http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/38572934/|access-date=March 1, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=September 30, 2012|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110552/http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/38572934/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Top Cuban baseball player defects to United States|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baseball-cuba-usa-idUSN0843527820080609|access-date=March 1, 2015|work=Reuters|date=June 9, 2008}} He was approved as a declared free agent by Major League Baseball on November 10, 2008.

Viciedo agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 12, 2008. The contract included a $4 million signing bonus, and paid $1 million in 2009, $1.25 million in 2010 and 2011, as well as $2.5 million in 2012. Signing with the White Sox reunited him with fellow Cuban countryman, Alexei Ramírez.{{cite web|url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081212&content_id=3715285&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws|title=Viciedo's four-year pact finalized|author=Merkin, Scott|work=MLB.com|date=2008-12-12|access-date=2008-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716150137/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081212&content_id=3715285&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws|archive-date=2011-07-16|url-status=dead}}

Viciedo began the {{Baseball year|2009}} season with the Double–A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League. During the season, he hit .280 with 12 home runs and 78 RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=vicied001day|title=Dayan Viciedo Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=February 28, 2015}}

Viciedo was batting .290, with 14 home runs and 34 RBI in 238 at bats with Triple–A Charlotte Knights before getting called up by the Chicago White Sox on June 17, 2010. He finished the season batting .274 with 20 home runs and 47 RBI in 343 at-bats.

Viciedo moved to right field at the beginning of the 2011 season in an attempt to get him up to the Major League level faster. He was batting .296, with 20 home runs and 78 RBI in 452 at bats with Triple–A Charlotte before being called up by the White Sox on August 26, 2011 because of an injury to Carlos Quentin.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/6900818/chicago-white-sox-put-carlos-quentin-dl-call-dayan-viciedo|title=White Sox put Carlos Quentin on DL|last=Padilla|first=Doug|work=ESPN|date=August 27, 2011|access-date=February 28, 2015}}

File:Dayán Viciedo on June 26, 2012.jpg

On June 17, 2010, it was announced that Viciedo would be called up to the major leagues for the first time. In his first Major League game against the Washington Nationals he recorded his first hit en route to a White Sox 6–3 win. Viciedo recorded his first Major League home run on July 5, against Scott Kazmir of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and two days later, on July 7, recorded his first career double against Joe Saunders of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2010, he played in 38 games and batted .308 with 5 home runs and 13 RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vicieda01.shtml|title=Dayan Viciedo Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=February 28, 2015}} In 2011, Viciedo appeared in 29 games and hit .255 with 1 home run and 6 RBI. He would take on a starting role in 2012, and hit career-highs with games played (147), home runs (25), and RBI (78) while recording a .255 batting average.

In 2013, Viciedo suffered an oblique strain in April that required a stint on the 15-day disabled list.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/white-sox/post/_/id/14412/dayan-viciedo-to-dl-with-left-oblique-strain|title=Dayan Viciedo to DL with left oblique strain|last=Padilla|first=Doug|work=ESPN|date=April 20, 2013|access-date=February 28, 2015}} In 124 games he would hit .265 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. 2014 would see Viciedo play in 145 games, batting a career-low .231 with 21 home runs and 58 RBI. He signed a one-year contract worth $4.4 million with the White Sox on January 12, 2015, to avoid arbitration.{{cite news|title=White Sox agree to 1-year deal with OF Viciedo|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=12156875|access-date=January 13, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=January 12, 2015}} However, he was designated for assignment on January 28,{{cite news|title=White Sox agree to $2M deal with Gordon Beckham, cut Dayan Viciedo|url=http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/gordon-beckham-returns-to-chicago-white-sox-on-1-year-2-million-dollar-deal-012815|access-date=March 1, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=Fox Sports|date=January 28, 2015}} and released on February 4.{{cite news|last1=Gleeman|first1=Aaron|title=White Sox release Dayan Viciedo, eat $733,000 after failing to find a trade|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/04/white-sox-release-dayan-viciedo-eat-733000-after-failing-to-find-a-trade/|access-date=March 1, 2015|publisher=NBC Sports|date=February 4, 2015}}

On March 1, 2015, Viciedo signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He would have earned $2.5 million if he made the 25-man roster,{{cite news|last1=Chisholm|first1=Gregor|title=Blue Jays sign Viciedo to Minor League deal|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/110779122/toronto-blue-jays-agree-to-minor-league-deal-with-outfielder-dayan-viciedo|access-date=March 1, 2015|date=March 1, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303152200/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/110779122/toronto-blue-jays-agree-to-minor-league-deal-with-outfielder-dayan-viciedo|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Blue Jays sign Dayan Viciedo|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12404474/toronto-blue-jays-boost-outfield-depth-sign-dayan-viciedo|access-date=March 1, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=March 1, 2015}} however he requested and was granted his release on March 31.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-grant-release-dayan-viciedo/ |title=Blue Jays grant release to OF Dayan Viciedo |first=David |last=Singh |work=sportsnet.ca |date=March 31, 2015 |access-date=March 31, 2015 }}

On June 12, 2015, Viciedo signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics.{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/12/as-sign-former-white-sox-outfielder-dayan-viciedo/|title=A's sign former White Sox outfielder Dayan Viciedo|last=Gleeman|first=Aaron|work=hardballtalk.nbcsports.com|date=June 12, 2015|access-date=June 12, 2015}} He was released on July 30 after hitting just .221 in 113 at bats for the Athletics' Triple–A club, the Nashville Sounds.

On August 1, 2015, Viciedo signed a minor league deal to return to the White Sox.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/dayan-viciedo-esmil-rogers.html/|title=White Sox re-sign outfielder Dayan Viciedo|last=Wilmoth|first=Charlie|work=MLBTradeRumors.com|date=August 1, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2015}}

On December 1, 2015, Viciedo signed a one–year, $1.4 million contract with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/12/01/baseball/japanese-baseball/dragons-part-ways-with-veteran-infielder-luna/#.VrYStfnhDIV|title=Dragons part ways with veteran infielder Luna|website=japantimes.co.jp|access-date=February 6, 2016}} Viciedo started his Japanese career hitting a Japanese record for a foreign player, with three home runs in the first three opening games against the Hanshin Tigers at the Kyocera Dome.{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/1623089.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402081841/http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/1623089.html |url-status=live |archive-date=April 2, 2016 |title=中日ビシエド 史上初の開幕から３戦連続本塁打 (Japanese) |website=Nikkan Sports |access-date=March 31, 2016 }} Viciedo was selected for Central League in the 2016 NPB All Star Game as back-up at first base.{{cite web|url=http://npb.jp/allstar/2016/roster.html|title=出場者・マツダオールスターズ 2016 (Players: Mazda All Stars 2016)|website=Nippon Professional Baseball|access-date=July 6, 2016}}

In the 2018 NPB season, Viciedo slashed .348/.419/.555 with 26 homers to claim the batting average and hits title leading to selection in the Central League Best 9.{{cite news |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/news/201811260000609.html |title=中日ビシエドが初ベストナイン「大満足のシーズン」 - プロ野球 : 日刊スポーツ |date=2018-11-26 |work=Nikkan Sports |access-date=2019-01-30 |language=ja |trans-title=Chunichi's Viciedo gets first Best 9: "I'm very satisfied"}}{{cite news |url=http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/dragons/news/201811/CK2018112702000101.html |title=ビシエド、初のベストナイン 「ファンの応援のおかげ」 |date=2018-11-26 |work=Chunichi Sports |access-date=2019-01-30 |language=ja |trans-title=Viciedo's first Best 9 "It due to the fans" |archive-date=2019-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130110259/http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/dragons/news/201811/CK2018112702000101.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190128-00000189-sph-base |title=【中日】昨季首位打者＆最多安打のビシエドが沖縄入り「間違いなくいいことが起きる年だね」（スポーツ報知） |date=2019-01-28 |work=Sports Hochi |access-date=2019-01-30 |language=ja |trans-title=Chunichi: Last year's average and hit leader Viciedo arrives in Okinawa "Make no mistake, this year something good is going to happen"}}{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/11/26/baseball/japanese-baseball/seibu-leads-way-six-selections-best-nine-team/ |title=Seibu leads way with six selections to Best Nine team |date=2018-11-26 |work=The Japan Times Online |access-date=2019-01-30 |language=en-US |issn=0447-5763}} On December 12, 2018, it was announced Viciedo had signed a new 3-year deal with the Dragons with a total value of ¥1.1 billion ($9.9 million).{{cite news |url=https://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20181212/dra18121205020001-n1.html |title=中日・ビシエド、３年総額１１億円契約 |date=2018-12-12 |work=Sankei Sports |access-date=2019-01-29 |language=ja-JP |trans-title=Chunichi: Viciedo gets 3 years, ¥1,100,000,000 }}{{Cite tweet |number=1071887850419847168|user=JonHeyman|title=Dayán Viciedo, ex of the white sox, signed a 3-year deal with chunichi of the Japan League. Believed to be for $10M. |date=2018-12-10 |language=en}}

On August 27, 2021, Viciedo reached 450 RBI in NPB, giving him the most RBI for a non-Japanese player in Chunichi Dragons history.{{cite tweet|number=1431257745076801538|user=NPB_Reddit|title=Chunichi Dragons hitter Dayan Viciedo got his 450th RBI as a Dragons player, giving him the most career RBI for non…|date=27 August 2021}} On September 26, Viciedo collected his 765th hit for the Dragons, passing Alonzo Powell for the most hits by a non-Japanese player in club history.{{cite tweet|number=1441410942806364173|user=NPB_Reddit|title=Chunichi Dragons hitter Dayan Viciedo got career hit #766 as a Dragon, passing the record he held with current hitt…|date=24 September 2021}} On December 1, Viciedo agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Dragons.{{cite tweet|number=1466048138490236938|user=NPB_Reddit|title=The Chunichi Dragons and Dayan Viciedo have agreed to a new 3 year contract starting in 2022 #npb|date=1 December 2021}}

On September 24, 2023, Viciedo collected his 1,000th NPB hit with an infield single off of Hiroto Saiki of the Hanshin Tigers. He became the 317th player in NPB history to achieve the feat, as well as the only foreign player in Dragons history to do so.{{Cite web|title=[Chongichi] Bisiedo, NPB 1000 hits in total! I decided with an infield hit in the 9th third base assault! The first 4 players of the team's assistant|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/edb871de261ffd5be17effff8eb9f063f4141854|access-date=September 27, 2023|website=news.yahoo.co.jp|language=en}}

Viciedo played in 15 games for Chunichi in 2024, hitting .209/.261/.302 with one home run and two RBI. On October 6, 2024, it was announced that Viciedo would not be retained after 2024, making him a free agent.{{Cite news |title=中日退団のビシエドを巡って日韓争奪戦!? "優良さ"に韓国球界からも熱視線 元阪神ロハスJr.ら活躍で「注目は当然」 |url=https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/dayan-viciedo-possibility-of-transfer-06/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |language=ja}}

• List of baseball players who defected from Cuba

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Portal |Biography|Baseball|Cuba}}

{{Baseballstats|mlb=493364|br=v/vicieda01|fangraphs=3917|brm=vicied001day}}

• [http://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/13715132.html NPB.jp]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viciedo, Dayan}}

Category:1989 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan

Category:Birmingham Barons players

Category:Charlotte Knights players

Category:Chicago White Sox players

Category:Chunichi Dragons players

Category:Defecting Cuban baseball players

Category:Cuban emigrants to the United States

Category:Major League Baseball players from Cuba

Category:21st-century Cuban sportsmen

Category:Cuban expatriate baseball players in the United States

Category:Major League Baseball third basemen

Category:Nashville Sounds players

Category:Naranjas de Villa Clara players

Category:Nippon Professional Baseball infielders

Category:People from Remedios, Cuba

Category:Baseball players from Villa Clara Province

Category:Peoria Javelinas players