New York Mets star Yoenis Cespédes stretches before a baseball game against the New York Yankees on July 20, 2018. His orange number 52 could clearly be seen on his left sleeve, as he rocked his Mets cap backwards.
Yoenis Cespédes was born in the town of Campechuela, Cuba on October 18, 1985 to Estela Milanés, a softball pitcher, and former baseball player Cresencio Céspedes. Yoenis got his start in baseball in the Cuban Winter League. He left Cuba for the Dominican Republic in 2011, where he met a sports agent who helped him establish residency in the United States. With his extraordinary talent, he skipped the MLB draft process to become a free agent, quickly signing a $36 million contract with the Oakland Athletics for four years. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, before landing with the NY Mets in 2015 on a on a $75 million contract, then later a $110 million deal.
On Sunday, Aug. 2, Yoenis failed to show up for a scheduled game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. “As of game time, Yoenis Céspedes has not reported to the ballpark today. He did not reach out to management with any explanation for his absence. Our attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful,” the statement read. See photos of the baseball star.