Based on a rule that designates if a foreign player has played more that eight years in the league they become a national, Dayán Viciedo now will count as another Japanese player as of 2024. This is extremely rare because it hasn’t happened much.
Viciedo who is a free agent will more than likely not be retained by the Chunichi Dragons, but now has the door open to play for other teams and not count amongst the imported players. The slugger had his worst statistical season in the Nippon League last year slashing .244/.311/.330/.641 with six longballs, nine double and 23 RBIs in 91 games with the squad from Nagoya.
¡JAPONÉS! Por haber cumplido ya 8 años de servicio en la #npb, 🇨🇺Dayán Viciedo no contará más como jugador extranjero en el roster de su equipo. A partir de la temporada 2024 será considerado como un jugador japonés. Pocos importados alcanzan ese estatus en Japón.
👏👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/g5hkvRC3Ji— Béisbol Japonés.com (@beisboljapones) October 23, 2023
During his time in the land of the rising Viciedo hits .288 with 138 homeruns, 547 runs batted in and is slashing .354/.462/.815 over that span. This also includes a batting title in 2018 and the slugger from Villa Clara, Cuba has been a three time All-Star in the circuit. The Cuban notched his 1,000th hit in the league this September against Hanshin Tigres.
Whether he’s re-signed by Chunichi this offseason or by another Viciedo has definitely made his mark in Japan and can be mentioned with the likes of Roberto “Chico” Barbón, Alfredo Despaigne, Orestes Destrade, Liván Moinelo and Raidel Martínez when one speaks of players who have distinguished themselves in the NPB.
https://twitter.com/lapelotaxnippon/status/1705992930765246690?t=B775RqBlBUOiu-Z_c5WD2w&s=19
Career highlights and awards
- 2x Central League Best Nine (2018-2019)
- 1x Central League Batting title (2018)
- 2x NPB Golden Glove Award (2020-2021)
- 3x NPB All-Star (2016, 2021, 2022)
- 1x Interleague play CL Nippon Life Award Winner (2021)
- 1x NPB All-Star Fighting Player Award (2022)
- 3x NPB Monthly MVP (March/April 2016, May 2017, August 2018)
- 1 inning 2 home runs: May 7, 2016, vs. Yomiuri Giants (Tokyo Dome)