Could Yoenis Cespedes make a return to the MLB? All about Team Cuba's veteran star

Nearly a decade ago, Cuban-born Yoenis Cespedes was one of the hottest players in professional baseball, and he showed no signs of slowing down.

Cespedes' father, Cresencio, was a catcher in the well-known Cuban pro leagues. His father was a major influence on him, inspiring him to pursue a pro career himself.

After hitting .333 in his final season in Cuba, Yoenis Cespedes decided to defect from his communist homeland. He was finally one step closer to realizing his dream of playing in the MLB.

The Oakland Athletics were the first MLB team to scoop up the newly-arrived Cuban defector, penning him to a 4-year deal worth $36 million. Cespedes hit .292/.356/.505, proving that he was indeed the real deal. In addition to putting up some serious offensive numbers, Cespedes began to make highlight reels for his powerful and lengthy throws from left field.

"8 years ago today, Yoenis Céspedes made this insane throw." - @ Michael Mayer

After stints in Boston and Detroit, Cespedes found himself with the New York Mets entering the 2015 season. Although his tenure with the Mets began well, injuries and constant contract drama complicated his relationship with the team. In 2020, Cespedes opted out of the season due to his concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. He departed the Mets and hasn't played in the MLB since.

Since 2022, Yoenis Cespedes has been playing for the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League. Although the skill level in the league represents a significant decrease from the MLB, Cespedes struggled last year.

In the 2022-23 season, Yoenis Cespedes played 18 games for Aguilas, hitting .188/.239/.406 with four home runs and 11 RBIs.

"Yoenis Céspedes is back! He will play for Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, per @francyromerofr" - World Baseball Classic

For US fans, Cespedes was a sight for sore eyes as he took the field for Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. It was the first time since the very beginning of the 2020 season that fans got a glimpse of him.

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Yoenis Cespedes may never come back to the MLB

At the age of 37, Cespedes is getting too old for most teams to offer him anything worth his while. Additionally, all the while that Cespedes has been playing in the Dominican Winter League, the MLB has only gotten more competitive. It is unlikely that he will ever make the jump back in.