NPB: Dayan Viciedo goes yard twice in Chunichi’s victory

Dayan Viciedo made his presence felt yesterday in what are the early games of the NPB.

In three at-bats, Dayan Viciedo, the Villa Clara native went yard twice in a 15-3 demolition of the Yakult Swallows by the Chunichi Dragons of the NPB.

The power-hitting first baseman in 11 games combined with the earlier February and March spring training games is hitting  .333 with 2 RBI’s and 2 runs scored this preseason.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Viciedo who was second in the Japanese Central League with a .315 average figures to be a key cog in the Dragons offense this season. The slugger also went yard 18 times and drove 93 runs last season.

Righty Raidel Martínez gave up two hits and a run while seeing his preseason ERA rise to 9.00. The Pinar del Río native is in the competition to be Chunichi’s closer this season.

In 40.2 innings pitched last season the flamethrower managed to save eight games while striking out 48 batters and posting an ERA of 2.66.

For SoftBank Liván Moinelo struck out three in one inning of relief and notched a save in the Hawks 2-1 victory over the Orix Buffaloes. The lefty who also figures to be the team’s closer has yet to give up a run in the preseason.

In 59.1 innings hurled last season the diminutive southpaw racked up 86 K’s while also saving four and winning three other games.

Also for SoftBank sluggers, Alfredo Despaigne and Yurisbel Gracial have yet to see action for the birds due to nagging injuries.

Leonys Martín went 0-3 with two strikeouts in a 5-5 tie between Chiba Lotte and Nippon Ham. The outfielder went yard 14 times last year in 52 games with the team after being released by the Cleveland Indians last June. Martín figures to be the Marines’ leadoff hitter and centerfielder this season.

Cubans on NPB rosters:

• Dayan Viciedo 1B (Chunichi Dragons)
• Raidel Martínez RHP (Chunichi Dragons)
• Ariel Martínez C (Chunichi Dragons) *
• Yariel Rodríguez RHP (Chunichi Dragons)*
• Alfredo Despaigne DH (SoftBank Hawks)
• Yurisbel Gracial INF/OF ( SoftBank Hawks)
• Livan Moinelo LHP ( SoftBank Hawks)
• Óscar Luis Colás OF (SoftBank Hawks) **
• Onelki Garcia LHP (Hashin Tigers)
• Leonys Martín OF (Chiba Lotte Marines)

* minor league ball club

** restricted list