MLB free agent Odrisamer Despaigne’s odyssey

MLB free agent Odrisamer Despaigne’s odyssey

Serie Nacional and the Caribbean

MLB free agent pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne engaged with some historic battles with Vladimir García in the 2012 final between Havana’s Industriales and the Ciego de Avila Tigers.

"He reflected on this, saying, “Those duels with Vladimir were epic and Ciego had a great team. I was always extra motivated against because of my dislike for their team. They made me exert myself to the limit. We faced each other 4 times during that postseason and I remember him beating me in a thrilling 3-2 rain-delayed game in Havana, a game I should not have reentered after the delay. We opened the next year against each and both put up 9 zeros in a game. I enjoyed all our battles, he was always a game opponent. “"

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In 2013 he was part of the Cuban World Baseball Classic team but hardly saw any action and only Victor Mesa knows why.

In 2019 he found himself in the Caribbean World Series wearing the uniform of the Dominican Republic. I asked him if he felt strange not wearing the four letters on his chest?

“Truthfully I didn’t feel strange at all, I came with the Oriental Stars of the Dominican Winter League. The Caribbean World Series is a club competition, not a national one. Only Cuba brings 90% of their national team. I wouldn’t have felt strange pitching against Las Tunas, but things would have been strange if I was facing Industriales, that’s were my heart is at. But I still would have faced them if I had to because I’m a professional.”

Returning to Havana

Odrisamer Despaigne, as stated above, bleeds Industriales blue so I posed the question to him on how he would feel if he could one day take the mound in Havana’s Latinoaméricano Stadium. This is what he said:

“I Will always miss pitching in Havana and would love to return to pitch there. There is nothing better than pitching in front of 60,000 Industriales fans, but Cuba has to be free before I ever pitch there again. I love my country and I want a change on my island. I don’t want to have a government impose on me when I can enter and leave our country. ”