Alfredo Despaigne to his third All-Star Game in Japan

July 1, 2019

Alfredo Despaigne will finally participate in the 2019 All-Star Game of the Japanese professional baseball league, despite not having been selected by popular vote.

The organizing committee of the Japanese tournament chose the granmense player as designated hitter for the team that will represent the Pacific League in the traditional game between the best baseball players of the current season. Only Despaigne and Venezuelan José Celestino López will be the foreign designated hitters from this league participating in the 2019 All-Star Game, according to the authorities of that sport.

The popular vote, which is always taken as a reference for making the selection, had been inconsistent by not including foreign players for this edition of the All-Star Game. The decision of the fans placed the granmense slugger in second place among designated hitters, trailing by almost 50 thousand votes to Kensuke Kondo, of the NipponHam Fighters.

This is Despaigne's third consecutive All-Star Game that will take place this month of July.