Why America's Infatuation with Yoenis Cespedes Will Make Him an All-Star by 2013

A week ago, the Oakland Athletics shocked many with the addition of 26-year-old Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes.

Naturally, ESPN, being the biggest sports source on television, ran a story covering the signing.  What's surprising, however, is that the only footage they were able to show of the Cuban was a single home run highlight, on loop.  

There's a lot of mystery surrounding the young Cuban outfielder, which is why it's so surprising that a team like Oakland would throw so much money his way, $36 million to be exact.  Coming into the 2012 season, Cespedes will be expected to immediately produce for the A's.  If his long swing doesn't translate to the majors, it could go down as a major blunder for a team that many believe is already headed towards a long, unsuccessful season.

Cespedes does have serious skills that can lead to major success in America.  If everything comes together, you're looking at a five-tool player.  The second he walks through the door in Oakland, he's going to be the best power option on the roster.  In his last year playing in Cuba, Cespedes put up a batting line of .333/.424/.667, with 33 HR's, 99 RBI's and 89 runs in only 90 games.

If Cespedes is able to translate his raw talent to the MLB, then he would instantly be the talk of not just Oakland, but the MLB.  Though he might be stranded in the bubble of Oakland, his game would not go unnoticed.  Take Aroldis Chapman, who pitched sparingly in the media giant of Cincinnati last year.  Chapman was only a reliever last year and owned a 3.60 ERA, yet it didn't stop the country from becoming perplexed with him because he possessed a fastball most have never seen.

Cespedes' power has the same potential to win over fans a long way from Oakland.  Home runs have always been one of the things about baseball that attract and entertain fans the most, hence why they dedicate an entire competition to home runs the day before the All-Star game.  When people think of Reggie Jackson, what comes to mind? His three consecutive home runs in the 1977 World Series and his home run over the right-field stands during the 1971 All-Star game at Tigers Stadium. 

Teams design their ballparks with special elements meant to showcase the long ball.  The Mets brought the apple with them to Citi Field, while across the bay in San Francisco they have a scoreboard that keeps track of how many "splash hits" leave the park and reach the water of McCovey Cove.

Expect Cespedes to exhibit the kind of power that puts the league on notice, while the rest of his game has the kind of flash that attracts widespread appeal.  He plays with a swagger that's pretty hard not to notice.

If his game can deliver then it's a swagger that people will embrace, rather than root against.  So if his game is for real—which means his popularity would inevitably rise—then Cespedes will become the most recognizable player of the A's, and thus attract the most votes among his teammates when the All-Star ballots are released.  

There's something about the unknown that fascinates America—look at how quickly "Linsanity" took over the country.  Like Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Ichiro Suzuki before him, international imports are always subject to the most intrigue when being built up over the course of an offseason.  The US got a taste of Cespedes when he lit up the World Baseball Classic in 2009, and you're about to hear a lot more about him come April.