Chicago White Sox: It's Time for a Cuban in the Outfield—Dayan Viciedo

The Chicago White Sox have a young Cuban slugger who could make an impact on the 2012 season in the fold entering spring training.

Not that guy. Chicago has had this player in their system for several years. He is due a shot to see what he could bring to the White Sox.

While some pine for the miracle that would be required to sign fabled free agent Yoenis Cespedes, Dayan Viciedo is a good bet to start the season with Chicago in a corner outfield spot. After several test runs with the big club, the 22-year-old farmhand may finally have an opening in Chicago's lineup.

Of course, he had to switch positions to get that shot.

Viciedo played 38 games, mostly at third and first, for Chicago in 2010, hitting .308 with five homers and 13 RBIs. With Paul Konerko re-signing last winter, and the club being wary of Viciedo's long-term defensive prospects at the hot corner, the Cuban Tank got an outfielder's mitt last spring.

If not for a thumb injury suffered in spring training, it's possible that Viciedo would have made the club as they went north. Instead, he spent most of the year in right field for Charlotte.

Viciedo hit .296 in 119 games in 2011, hit 20 balls out of the park, and was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.

The same fans who are holding out hope that the White Sox sign Cespedes were clamoring for GM Kenny Williams to call up Viciedo for whatever offensive boost he could provide.

That finally happened late in August. Viciedo hit .353 in his first 15 games with Chicago before cooling off. He wound up with a .255 average in 29 games.

Right field was vacated over the winter with the trade that sent Carlos Quentin to San Diego. Viciedo worked hard to make himself a serviceable major league outfielder. He is similar to another Carlos, as in Lee, in this regard.

Given time, Viciedo should be able to provide decent glove work while adding a potent bat to the lineup. This guy isn't going to get cheated out of swings, though he did draw nine walks in 113 plate appearances. He also struck out 23 times in that period.

Unlike Cespedes, the White Sox have a frugal investment in Viciedo. He won't be arbitration eligible until 2015. Chicago has had good results with Alexei Ramirez, another Cuban free-agent signing that proved to be cost effective as well.

I'm not going as far as saying that the still-developing Viciedo can be compared to the supposedly finished product that the 26-year-old Cespedes is reported to be. However, Viciedo has decent upside at a fraction of the cost.

Let's face it, the White Sox are already shelling out big money for a five-tool blue chipper in Alex Rios. How has that worked out so far?