How good is Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes? Who knows?

But major-league teams are in serious pursuit of the center fielder, who could be the next big thing in baseball – or not.

Cespedes, said to be 26, held an open workout last Friday in the Dominican Republic with scouts from numerous clubs in attendance.

A Marlins contingent, led by owner Jeffrey Loria, will visit him later this week in the Dominican, according to major-league sources.

Other teams, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers and Nationals, also had a significant presence at Cespedes’ workout, sources say.

Cespedes is expected to receive clearance to become a free agent later this month. Some executives believe he will command an even larger financial package than the approximately $30 million that the Reds gave Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman in Jan. 2010.

A 20-minute video of Cespedes’ exploits is on YouTube.

-Ken Rosenthal