Cuban pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne, who was acquired from the San Diego Padres over the winter, said Thursday that he's happy that the Tampa Bay Rays have finalized plans to visit his home country later this month.
"It would be great for the Cuban people,'' he said, with Orioles pitching instructor Ramon Martinez acting as his interpreter, "and I hope that someday in the future that the Cuban players can come over in a better way than they do now. It'll be great for the Cuban people."
Despaigne said he remembers the last time a major league team visited Cuba.