Frederich Cepeda Dreams of Returning to Olympics and World Classic

When asked about a possible retirement date, Cepeda said he has never thought about it. “I play baseball because I like it, age doesn’t matter”, he added

I dream of returning to the Olympics and the World Classic, said Frederich Cepeda when interviewed by Cuban News Agency after the second game of the Special Baseball Series played in Santiago de Cuba’s Guillermón Moncada Baseball Stadium.  I also dream of keeping good results in these tournaments, added the 37-year-old born in the Cuban province of Sancti Spiritus.

Despite the fact that in the 2017 Baseball Classic Cepeda only hit one unstoppable in 15 turns at bat, he received 7 tickets, scored 2 runs and drove in 1, while in the three previous editions he had an offensive average of 449, six home runs, 23 RBIs, 15 walks and 17 scored and historically led that competitions in number of home runs, RBIs, scored, hits, doubles (8) and total bases (59).

The World Baseball Classic is the professional baseball competition of highest level for national teams. In the 2016-2020 period the Olympic Games are also in the panorama and baseball will be back to that games. Requirements are now greater since only six teams will be qualifying; on the other hand Japan, one of the greatest baseball powers, will be the venue.

Cepeda stressed that he is well concentrated because that is what’s important, together with the preparation established by the coaches. The first goal is to win  the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, in July, the most important event in 2018, he said.

When asked about a possible retirement date, Cepeda said he has never thought about it. “I play baseball because I like it, age doesn’t matter. I was young once and one day we will all become veterans”, said the emblematic ambidextrous athlete, lying on the ground, focused on the massages and recuperative exercises after the game.

Taken from ACN and translated by Escambray