With four appearances in the World Baseball Classic (2006, 2009, 2013, and 2017) — which should have been five had he been called up in 2023 — Frederich Cepeda Cruz, the finest hitter in Cuba's national series this century, stands as the all-time statistical leader in the history of the sport's most prestigious international team competition.

"El Gallo Mayor," who will turn 46 this coming April 8, leads the tournament's all-time charts in hits with 32, RBIs with 23, and runs scored with 19. He also shares the top spot in doubles with 8, alongside Canada's Justin Morneau — though the latter reached that figure in fewer official plate appearances.

Naturally, he also leads in one of his signature specialties: drawing walks, with 22 free passes to first base.

He additionally shares second place among the Classic's all-time home run leaders with six, trailing only Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez — nicknamed "El Alazán" — who hit seven home runs across his own four tournament appearances, a total he may yet surpass in the sixth edition of the event.

The finest switch-hitter to play in Cuban championships since 1962 has not only drawn admiration from his compatriots. After the conclusion of Cuba's game against Brazil in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Japanese legend Sadaharu Oh — the world's all-time home run king with 868 career blasts — visited the Cuban dugout at first base and was notably taken with the unassuming Cepeda.

This was no small distinction, given that Cuba's roster at the time featured several players who would go on to reach the Major Leagues, including José Dariel Abreu — American League Rookie of the Year in 2014 — along with Yulieski Gourriel, Yasmany Tomás, Erisbel Arruebarruena, José Miguel Fernández, and Guillermo Heredia, among others.