The explosion of Cubans in the major leagues continues and we no longer know when it will stop. The latest to launch his bid for star in the MLB was the Havana´s skillful Odrisamer Despaigne, who debuted in style with the San Diego Padres.
After going through an ordeal in the Minor Leagues, completely away from his usual performance, the former leader of the Industriales pitching staff was called to the big leagues to replace the injured Andrew Cashner and had a jaw-dropping performance on front of more than 40 thousand fans who went to the AT & T Park in San Francisco.
Odrisamer, who pitched to the also Cuban catcher Yasmani Grandal, walked seven innings and handcuffed the Giants with an impressive speed variability, from fastballs located in the lower ninety miles and breaking balls that slowed down until nearly sixty miles, with highlights including for change-up, perfected since his days in Cuba, where coaches José Elosegui and Julio Romero helped him polish that pitch.
Such a contrast disarmed to the Californian offense, with heavyweights like the Hunter Pence, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval.
According to several reports, Odrisamer made the Giants look like rookies, based on a tremendous economy of pitches, only 86 in seven innings. Of these, 59 were in the strike zone, detail forcing opponents to fan unsuccessfully, since they connected 12 ground balls, 11 fly balls and only six drive lines.
Along the way, he allowed four singles and didn’t walk any, with a strike out, and no runner past second base, relevant action to the fullest extent, because the Giants are a great team, to the point that have led the West NL Division all season.
This performance was not expected by most experts, because Odrisamer had been hit at ease on his stay with San Antonio Missions (AA class) and El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple-A), when he allowed 21 runs in 31.1 innings, with 18 walks and 40 hits.
However, the surprise has been very well received in the house of the San Diego Padres, which these days is undergoing a period of turmoil following the dismissal of general manager Josh Byrnes on Sunday.
