The Cuban pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne reached an agreement with the Águilas Cibaeñas to join the upcoming winter season of the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic (LIDOM), as confirmed by journalist Francys Romero through sources close to the negotiation.
The agreement has not yet been formalized, but the official announcement is expected to occur in the coming weeks.
Despaigne arrives at a peak performance moment: at 39 years old, the Havana native leads the Mexican League of Baseball 2026 in innings pitched with 95.0 innings worked with Caliente of Durango, making him the most utilized starter in the league.
In addition to its durability, the pitch showcases an effectiveness of 3.88, a figure that places it among the ten best pitchers in the Mexican league and supports its status as a reliable and high-volume starter.
For the Águilas, one of the most successful organizations in Dominican baseball, the addition of the Cuban player signifies a reinforcement of proven experience in multiple professional leagues around the world.
This will not be Despaigne's first encounter with the Santiago de los Caballeros franchise. In January of this year, the pitcher was signed by the Águilas for the Round Robin of the 2025-2026 LIDOM season, making his debut against the Gigantes del Cibao on January 11.
However, his stay was short: ten days later he was transferred to the Toros del Este, the team with which he reached the final of LIDOM. In Game 3 of that series against the Leones del Escogido, Despaigne shone with an outstanding performance: he pitched 5.2 innings, allowed two runs, and struck out seven batters, with a fastball that averaged 92.9 mph and peaked at 94.2 mph.
The international career of the player from Havana includes six seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels, and Chicago White Sox, accumulating 363.0 innings and a record of 13-26 in the major leagues.
After his time in MLB, Despaigne played in the Korean League with KT Wiz, where in 2020 he had his best season with a record of 15-8, an ERA of 4.33, and over 200 innings pitched, before settling in the Mexican Baseball League.
With a track record across three continents and the ability to handle a heavy workload, Despaigne is shaping up to be one of the most solid acquisitions for the upcoming 2026-2027 winter season of LIDOM, strengthening a pitching staff that aims to compete for the title from day one of the championship.
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