Yoenis Céspedes is looking like his old self in the winter league

After showing flashes of brilliance during his eight-year MLB career -- remember "The Throw," the Derby dominance, the 2015 Mets' second-half run, the just-dripping-with-coolest-player-alive vibes -- Yoenis Céspedes had a bit of an awkward end to his stateside playing days. He did come back after that 2019 incident on his ranch to play eight games in 2020, but then, after nobody signed him in 2021, it seemed the aging, oft-injured outfielder might be out of baseball forever.

So, it was somewhat surprising, and exciting, when the 37-year-old announced he'd be playing for Aguilas Cibae?as during the 2022-23 Dominican Winter League season. And it was even more exciting if you were tuning into his at-bats on Wednesday night.

Céspedes went 4-for-4 at the plate, with two singles (including one of the infield variety), a booming double off the tall center-field wall at Cibao Stadium and a majestic home run to left. The bat speed, the power, the cool factor all still seem to be there.

If Céspedes continues to play well and stay healthy, and with the newly established designated hitter position in the National League, you'd have to think a team might invite him to Spring Training next season. If it does happen, hopefully we get one of these wonderful Céspedes/Little Rascals mashups the world needs at the outset of every new baseball season.