A former NY Mets outfielder is listing his Florida ranch for a cool $30 million

USA Today

5 hours ago

The nearly 400-acre estate owned by Yoenis Cespedes, a former outfielder for the New York Mets, can be yours for $30 million.
The private equestrian and hunting estate, "La Potencia II" — a nod to Cuban-born Cespedes' baseball nickname of "La Potencia," which means "The Power" in Spanish — is located near Clover Park, the Mets spring training home in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
La Potencia II reportedly is where Cespedes suffered his debilitating injury in 2019. He suffered multiple right ankle fractures during an incident with a wild boar, which either charged toward Cespedes or startled him, according to a Major League Baseball news release.
A look inside La Potencia II
La Potencia II, at 16675 C-24 Canal Road, is listed by Julian Johnston and Lina Agosto, of real estate firm Corcoran Group.
"This is not just a home. It's a private kingdom, custom-built for those who live life at full tilt," according to a Corcoran Group news release.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the listing.
At the heart of the estate is a modern, nearly 16,000-square-foot home with six bedrooms, four bathrooms and two powder rooms.
'It's so impressive when you walk in," Johnston said. "It's a beautiful house."
The home's amenities include a chef's kitchen, a batting cage, a 40-by-20-foot heated pool, spa, screened patio, a private barber shop (built by Cespedes to accommodate his personal grooming routine while on the ranch) and a 12-stall horse stable with training yards.
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'I was in there half an hour trying to hit a ball,' Johnston said about the batting cage. 'That machine throws curve balls, fast balls. It's a lot of fun, but it's hard to hit the ball. They make it look easy.'
Cespedes purchased the property in June 2016 for nearly $15 million, according to St. Lucie County Property Appraiser's Office.
He envisioned the estate as a place of performance, relaxation and escape, the Corcoran Group news release said: "It reflects the lifestyle of someone who made his name with power, precision and purpose — on and off the field."
La Potencia II is the second-most expensive home listing ever in St. Lucie County, runner-up to Wayne Huizenga's riverfront estate in Palm City, which is listed for $39 million.
Cespedes once owned a ranch near Vero Beach, known as "La Potencia," which has been sold, Johnston said.
Cespedes still plans to reside in the area after selling the property, Johnston said. He's looking for his new home anywhere between Vero Beach and Palm Beach, Johnston said.
Cespedes' MLB career
Following his defection from Cuba in 2011, Cespedes began his MLB career with the Oakland Athletics in 2012. He was traded to the Mets in 2015.
An outfielder who typically played left field, over the course of his career he played in 834 games and hit 165 home runs, finishing his career with a .273 batting average.
Cespedes made headlines in 2016 for pulling up to the Mets' spring training camp in exotic cars — such as a $65,000 three-wheel Polaris and a $300,000 "fire-breathing Lamborghini."
"Being in Cuba, I never thought I was going to be here in the United States,' Cespedes told TCPalm at the time through a translator. 'After I got here, I saw the possibilities. I could have whatever I want, so I worked hard for it."
Cespedes' injury he suffered from the boar-related incident at La Potencia II in 2019 prevented him from playing that season.
His last Major League game was Aug. 1, 2020, in Atlanta, a Mets loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Jack Randall is TCPalm's economy and real estate reporter. You can reach him at [e-mail] or 904-466-4755.