KT Wiz signs Cuban pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne

The KT Wiz signed Cuban pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne on Monday.

The Wiz said Despaigne, 32, has agreed to a one-year contract worth $900,000 - $450,000 in guaranteed salary, $300,000 in signing bonus and $150,000 in incentives.

Standing at 1.83 meters (6 feet), Despaigne is a right-handed pitcher who has the ability to throw different control of pitches, including a four seam fastball, at an average speed of a high 140 kilometers (87 miles) per hour.

Despaigne started his professional career with the Industriales of the Cuban National Series, and in 2013 he played for the country at the World Baseball Classic. In 2014, he expanded his career into the major league, starting with the San Diego Padres.

Throughout Despaigne’s six seasons in the majors, he picked up 13 wins and 26 losses with a 5.11 ERA in 109 games.

Last season, Despaigne played for the Cincinnati Red and Chicago White Sox’s Triple A teams and picked up eight wins and six losses with a 3.47 ERA in 24 games.

“Despaigne is a veteran pitcher that batters find difficult to play against,” said the Wiz general manager Lee Soong-yong. “Since his game management and ability to toss long innings has been verified in the American league, we expect him to lead the team’s starting rotation next season.”

As the Wiz signed a new foreign pitcher, they will have to part ways with one of two foreign pitchers - Raul Alcantara or William Cuevas - who picked up 11 wins and 13 wins, respectively, throughout the 2019 season.

In the KBO, each team is allowed a maximum of two foreign pitchers and one position player.

By Kang Yoo-rim