MLB free agent Odrisamer Despaigne’s odyssey

Odrisamer Despaigne is an MLB free agent pitcher whose journey in baseball has had its ups and downs. Here’s what he told us about his experience in the game.

HIALEAH,FL– MLB free agent pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne has had a productive yet interesting career in the Majors. The right-hander signed with the San Diego Padres in 2014 after defecting from the Cuban National Team in the 2013 World Port Tournament.

The native of Havana signed a minor league deal with the team May 2 of that year and made his major league debut June 23 hurling 7 shutout innings against the San Francisco Giants.

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In his fifth major league start, he pitched 7.2 no-hit innings in a game in which the Padres won 2-1. That season with San Diego he finished 4-7 with a 3.36 earned run average.

Coming to Miami

In 2016 he was traded to Baltimore and never really given a role with the ball club and he struggled. The righty pitched in 16 games mostly as a reliever and in September of that year, he was designated for assignment.

The Miami Marlins claimed the versatile Despaigne on September 15 and he pitched very effectively for the fish. With Miami, he was a jack of all trades. He started, was middle relief and even saved a game that year.

“Miami was an incredible place to pitch. I enjoyed every moment of the being able to pitch in front the South Florida fans ,it was almost like pitching in Havana’s Latinoamericano stadium. I love Miami and the Marlins, when I retire I’m going bring children to watch the ball club.”

Although he pitched very well for the Marlins in 2018 he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels and had a record of 0-3 to close out the season.

MLB free agent Odrisamer Despaigne’s odyssey

The Cincinnati experience

After the 2018 season, Despaigne elected to test the waters in free agency and was only able to ink a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.

Though he pitched well with Louisville (AAA) he never got a call up from the Reds and decided to opt-out of his contract. “I had an opt-out clause in my contract with Cincinnati and I was pitching well,” said the MLB free agent pitcher, “I noticed that I wasn’t going to get a call up so I decided to exercise the opt-out.”

On May 16 of 2019 he opted out of his contract with Cincinnati.

Welcome to the Windy City

After opting out with the Reds he was immediately signed by within days by the Chicago White Sox. About this, he said, “I had various offers, in fact, I had at least seven teams interested in me. I picked Chicago because of the big Cuban influence on the ball club and because aside from Miami it’s my favorite city in the US.”

Despaigne pitched well in the minors for the Sox and was called up June 10 but had a few rough outings. He once again opted for free agency after the season.

Opting for the Orient

During the off-season, the crafty righty signed a 1 year, $900,000 contract with the KT Wiz and this might be lining up to be his best season as a pro.

“In Korea, I think I can dominate,” said Despaigne, “it’s an offensive laden league but I think with my repertoire I can be effective. I’ve prepared very well this offseason to stay healthy and be the leader of the Wiz’s pitching staff.”

A motivated Despaigne could be dominant in Korea and find his way back to the Majors as others before him have done.

His repertoire and different angles of release should befuddle hitters in Korea and possibly get scouts looking at him once again.