Wirfin Obispo

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

According to various reports, Obispo’s fastball ranges from 93-97.  He also throws a hard slider.  He has an eccentric motion, though, and has struggled to throw strikes.  He had a huge platoon split in 2012, but none at all in 2013.

2002
DSL:  211/308/263, 114 AB, 4 2B, 1 3B, 15 BB, 35 K

As a 17-year-old, Obispo didn’t hit much in his debut season.

2003
DNP

Obispo didn’t play all year and the Sox released him after the season.

2004
DSL:  3-3-1, 3.38 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 40.0 IP, 5.9 BB/9, 11.7 K/9

The Reds moved Obispo to the mound and he made an impression right away, striking out a lot of batters, albeit with control problems.

2005
DSL:  1-3-2, 2.31 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 50.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 10.5 K/9

The Reds had to send Obispo back to the DSL due to his visa problems.  He improved his control and pitched better overall.

2006
DSL:  4-5-0, 2.04 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 79.2 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 10.6 K/9

Still in the DSL, Obispo became a starter full-time and continued to improve.

2007
Japan:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

The Reds finally gave up due to Obispo’s visa problems and released him during spring training.  He signed with Yomiuri.  He spent much of his time in Japan in their minor leagues.  In 2007, he got into two games with Yomiuri.

2008
DNP

Obispo missed the season due to shoulder problems.

2009
Japan:  6-1-0, 2.45 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 58.2 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 7.4 K/9

Obispo got into 14 games with Yomiuri, including seven starts, and pitched impressively.

2010
Japan:  2-3-0, 5.21 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 48.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 4.1 K/9

Yomiuri again used Obispo in 14 games and seven starts, but he had far less success.

2011
Japan:  0-0-0, 54.00 ERA, 7.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 27.0 BB/9, 0.0 K/9

Obispo appeared in only two games for Yomiuri.

2012
AA:  5-2-0, 2.23 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 76.2 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA:  0-1-0, 6.05 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 7.0 BB/9, 6.5 K/9

The Reds signed Obispo and sent him to AA to open the season.  He pitched well there in relief and the Reds moved him up to AAA in mid-May.  He struggled at the higher level, especially with the strike zone, and went back to AA after about five weeks.  He continued to dominate there and moved to the rotation late in the season, making 13 starts total, including three in AAA.  The Reds did not add him to their 40-man roster and he became a free agent after the season.

2013
AAA:  2-4-9, 3.53 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 63.2 IP, 4.9 BB/9, 9.9 K/9

The Braves signed Obispo and sent him to AAA to work strictly as a reliever.  He pitched well, holding opponents to a .204 average and striking out well over a batter an inning.  Obviously, he had control issues.  The Braves added him to their 40-man after the season.

2014
AAA (Atl):  2-1-0, 4.66 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 5.6 BB/9, 9.8 K/9
AAA (Pgh):  0-2-0, 3.77 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 28.2 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 9.1 K/9

Obispo went back to AAA and didn’t pitch as well as the previous year, although he continued to post a high K rate.  The Braves removed him from the roster so they could call up a different reliever.  Obispo mostly pitched well for Indianapolis, albeit with continuing control problems, but the Pirates designated him for assignment in August when they claimed Ramon Cabrera off waivers.  He was not claimed and the team outrighted him to Indianapolis.

Obispo remains an interesting pitcher due to his ability to miss bats and, despite turning 30 late in the 2014 season, he doesn’t have all that much experience as a pitcher.  Still, he’ll be a free agent and so is likely to move on.