18-year-old Cuban third baseman Dayan Viciedo arrived in the United States at the end of May and is now living with friends and family, his agent, Jaime Torres, revealed Sunday.

If Torres is establishing residency in the U.S., rather than going to the Dominican Republic or another country as many Cuban defectors have, then he's going to be subject to the MLB draft, rather than a bidding war. Viciedo isn't as highly regarded as Yulieski Gourriel, but he was one of Cuba's top prospects. He particated in the Cuban League's All-Star Game as a 16-year-old in 2006. It's uncertain whether he has much chance of lasting at third base, but he should be able to hit in the majors.

-rotoworld.com

If he was in fact in the US before the draft, he will be an IFA. Just have to prove it I guess.

I'm not really sold on these Cuban hitting prospects.

Which recent ones have worked out? Morales was supposed to be nasty, and he's sucked so far. Miranda was supposed to be decent, and he's been meh.

OAKLAND - The Yankees New York Yankees haven't had much success with the Cuban third basemen they've signed, but the club isn't shying away from Dayan Viciedo.

"We will certainly take a look at it," minor-league head Mark Newman said of the 18-year-old Viciedo, who defected from Cuba in May and is believed to be staying in Miami while waiting to establish residency in another country so he won't be subject to MLB's draft.

"He is a young guy who can swing the bat."

Since Viciedo, who began playing in Cuba's major leagues when he was 15, is represented by Jaime Torres, Viciedo is expected to land in the Dominican Republic, but Yankee eyes in the DR haven't seen him yet.

The Yankees invested $4.5 million in Andy Morales in 2001, and he lasted 48 games in Double-A before being released because he hit .231 and there were questions about his age. The Yanks gave Cuban third baseman Yobal Duenas $60,000 in 2004.


http://www.nypost.com/seven/06112008/sport...cuba_114930.htm

Also BA said he was better than Villalona