KBO: Ex-MLB pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne expected to start Opening Day
By Yusseff Diaz
When baseball finally kicks off in Korea, former Miami Marlins pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne is expected to start on opening day in the KBO league.
Going into his 33rd birthday Havana native and former Miami Marlins pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne is going to be the opening day starter for the KT Wiz of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) against the SK Wyvern on May 1st.
The righty will make his debut in the league joining his countrymen Jose Miguel Fernández as the only Cubans playing in Korea. Despaigne signed a one year deal with the ball club during the off-season after electing free agency. He signed for the sum of 900K and is expected to be their ace.
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Despagine has vast experience on the mound, this will be the third professional circuit in which he pitches for the Wiz. He also pitched for Havana’s Industriales Blue Lions and compiled a record of 67-44 and an earned run average in six seasons aside from his MLB experience.
After leaving the Cuban National Team during a connecting flight in France and became a resident of Spain before signing with the Padres in 2014. He had his best big league years with the Miami Marlins from 2016-2018 in which he had a record of 4-3, an ERA of 4.52 mostly as a spot starter and long reliever, he even managed to save a game during his time with the fish.
Strangely he was traded to the Angels during that season as a trade deadline transaction by the Marlins and finished last season with the Chicago Whitesox. The righthander only made two starts for the team from the Windy City before electing for free agency at seasons end.
Despaigne will be the second Cuban to make an opening day start for a team in an Asian circuit this year, yesterday Ariel Miranda took the mound for the China Trust Brothers of the CPBL.
Next. M's: Ex-Big leaguer Ariel Miranda debuts in Taiwan. dark
Depending on how well he pitches this could be the road to either a luxurious deal with the Wiz or back to the Majors.