Wirfin Obispo

From BR Bullpen

Wirfin Y. Obispo

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 6' 1", Weight 160 lb.

BR Minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Wirfin Obispo had a breakthrough year with the 2009 Yomiuri Giants.

Obispo was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 2002 as a shortstop; he failed in that role and was let go. He was then signed by the Cincinnati Reds and moved to the mound. He made his professional pitching debut with the 2004 DSL Reds, going 3-3 with a save and a 3.38 ERA. He fanned 52 in 40 innings and allowed a .171 average. He was named the club's Pitcher of the Year. Despite that performance, he was with the same team in 2005, going 1-3 with two saves and a 2.31 ERA, striking out 59 in 50 2/3 IP.

Obispo's two big years for the DSL Reds still didn't earn him a ticket to the USA. Back with the DSL Reds for 2006, the right-hander was 4-5 with a 2.04 ERA. He struck out 93 in 79 1/3 innings and allowed just a .168 average. He was second in the Dominican Summer League in strikeouts behind only Luis Pérez.

A free agent after his three big years in the Reds chain, Obispo was signed by Japan's Yomiuri Giants and was sent to ni-gun. He was timed at 98 mph in the minor leagues, earning him a late-season call-up to the Giants. He tossed one shutout inning, striking out one and hitting one in 2007.

Obispo was sidelined by shoulder trouble for all of 2008, keeping him in the minors. Wirfin was healthier in 2009 and went 6-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 14 games for Yomiuri. He held opponents to a .205 average. Obispo won game three of the 2009 Japan Series; he allowed 3 homers but nothing else in six innings, fanning six and met former US President George W. Bush before the game (Bush threw out the first pitch).

Sources[edit]

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