Cuban Gourriel Hits First Homer in Japanese Baseball

The ace Cuban baseball player Yuliesky Gourriel hit his first homer in the elite division of Japanese professional baseball during the 5-8 defeat of his team, Yokohama DeNA Baystars, against the Orix Buffaloes.

Gourriel hit third and went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to offensively lead his team, which still remains in the bottom of the table of Japanese Central League with a negative balance of 23 wins and 33 losses.

The Cuban player had a brief spell in the minors before debuting at the top Japanese baseball circuit, where after three games he hits 5 for 12 for an excellent batting average of .417.

In turn, the renowned Cuban outfielder Frederich Cepeda had an ephemeral action by earning a walk as pinch hitter in the 2-1 victory of his team, the Yomiuri Giants, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Cepeda hits only .182, with four homers and 12 RBIs in 21 games with the Yomiuri, team that tops the Central League with 34 wins and 26 losses.

The hiring of Yuliesky Gourriel and Frederich Cepeda to intervene in the 2014 season of Japanese Baseball Major League corresponds to the policy of Cuban Baseball Federation to promote the presence of its players in foreign championships.