Odrisamer Despaigne: Miami Marlins 2018 Season in Review

Odrisamer Despaigne defected from the Cuban National Team while on the road in Europe for a Dutch tournament in 2013.

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 170 of 286. For the first 100, click here.

Odrisamer Despaigne is a 6′, 200 lb. right-handed pitcher from La Habana, Cuba. Born on April 4th, 1987, Despaigne played eight seasons of ball in the Cuban National Series with Industriales de La Habana, going 58-42 with a 3.73 ERA and 625 whiffs in 869 1/3 innings. Follow him on Twitter @despa40.

While attending an international tournament in Holland on July 2nd, 2013, Despaigne defected from the Cuban National Team. After some deliberation, he signed on with the San Diego Padres on May 2nd, 2014.

Despaigne started 34 games for the Padres over the next two seasons, also making 16 appearances out of the bullpen. In total, he was 9-16 with a 4.74 ERA and 134 whiffs in 222 innings pitched. Prior to 2016 Spring Training, Despaigne was traded by the Padres to the Baltimore Orioles for Jean Cosme.

For the O’s, Despaigne appeared 16 times, striking out 17 in 27 innings in total. He got designated for assignment on September 5th, and that’s where the Miami Marlins selected him off waivers.

Despaigne only appeared in three games for the Miami Marlins in 2016, and over his next two seasons, maintained more service time in the minors than the majors. In 2017, he played 70 innings for the New Orleans Baby Cakes in the triple-A Pacific Coast League while tossing 58 frames for the Marlins. In 18 games for Miami, including eight starts, he struck out 31 batters and held down a 4.01 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP.

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Despaigne started the 2018 season with the Miami Marlins, and earned their first win of the season in an unconventional way. He pitched the top of the 17th inning in a game tied at one with the Chicago Cubs, then took the winning decision on Miguel Rojas‘ walkoff on March 30th.

In 11 games for the Marlins in 2018, including just one start, Despaigne struck out 18 in 20 innings, going 2-0 with a 5.31 ERA. He also pitched 43 innings for the Baby Cakes, putting up a 4.36 ERA and 40 K’s in 43 innings of work. On July 1st, he was named the PCL Player of the Week.

On August 14th, the Miami Marlins traded Despaigne to the Los Angeles Angels for cash. He was 0-3 with an 8.20 ERA over eight games for them, including four starts. He was granted free agency following the season, and is now able to sign with any organization.

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