# Alfredo Despaigne Reportedly Set to Lead Seven Cuban Players to China's New Professional Baseball League

**Date:** 08/07/2026

Cuban slugger Alfredo Despaigne would lead a group of seven island-born ballplayers reportedly set to join China's fledgling Chinese Professional Baseball (CPB) league for its upcoming season, according to a Friday report from sports journalist Francys Romero. Alongside the longtime Granma outfielder, the group is said to include outfielders Yasiel González and José Amaury Noroña, along with pitchers Fher Cejas, Andy Vargas, Frank Herrera and Yankiel Mauris.


If finalized, the contracts would have been approved by the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS), though the federation has not yet issued an official confirmation of the arrangement. The CPB, which crowned the Shenzhen Bluesox as its inaugural champion earlier this year, plans to expand to six teams for the coming season: the Beijing Dragons, Shanghai Orcas, Shenzhen Bluesox, Xiamen Dolphins, Fuzhou Sea Knights and Changsha Want Want, with a 48-game schedule running through late September.


Despaigne, 40, has long been regarded as one of the most feared power hitters in Cuban baseball over the past decade and already has experience in Asian professional leagues, having played in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Should the move to China go through, the Palma Soriano native and the rest of the group would be unavailable for Cuba's 65th National Series, which reports indicate has been shifted from September 2 to October 4.