By Robiel Vega
The Association of Cuban Professional Baseball Players (ACPBP) continues to add support from different parts of the world, and it became news that three of Cuba’s representatives in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) have joined the project and offered their support to the recently created organization.
Pitchers Odrisamer Despaigne, Ariel Miranda and infielder José Miguel Fernández joined the many who support the idea on a daily basis, demonstrating that they are not only looking for players who currently play in the Major Leagues.
Odrisamer, 35, with an extensive career that includes eight National Series, six seasons in the Major Leagues and three in the KBO, is living an excellent moment of form with the KT Wiz, with a 2-3 record that does not do justice to the work he has done: a 2.93 ERA, 1.283 WHIP and what is best best, only four walks and three hit batters in 46 innings of work, adding 42 strikeouts.
Ariel Miranda has barely had two starts this year, but let’s remember that in 2021 he became the first Cuban winner of the MVP award in the KBO, with a total of 14 wins, 2.33 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 225 strikeouts in 173.2 and 21 quality starts out of the 28 he made.
The other member of the trident is Jose Miguel Fernandez, also with Major League experience, who has been one of the KBO’s most consistent hitters since his arrival in 2019, averaging for .328 in a total of 463 games and 2,075 at-bats. His slash line is a luxury: .409 OBP, .483 SLG and .892 OPS.
To complete such a run, we must remember that he was the leader in hits in 2019 and 2020, with 197 and 199 respectively. In addition, he was second among hitters in 2019, with .344, fifth in 2020 with .340 and in that same year, he ranked fifth with 104 runs scored.
This year, despite a slow start for the season, no one doubts that he will progress in his performance and, at 34, he still has a lot to give. He is currently averaging .261 (35 for 134), with eight extra-base hits, nine runs scored and 14 RBIs in 34 games played.
Important names continue to join the Association and every day it is more and more exciting to be able to see the team that is being formed in action. It would be an honor and a pride that this dream comes true and that all these players have the opportunity to represent the colors of our flag, as the Cubans they are.
