In the deck of cards that we call life, some of us have been dealt a bad hand. Sometimes the only way to see clear of a dismal situation is to dream of a better future.
As a child, I dreamed of many things. As an adult, I've had the opportunity to live some of those dreams. Writing this column is one of them. For this reason, I've always admired people who chase after dreams, particularly against dismal odds.
Phillies pitcher Eddie Oropesa once dreamed of playing in the big leagues. As a young adult, he also wanted a better life for his family. To realize this, the native of Colon, Cuba, defected when the Cuban national team was playing an exhibition game in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1993.
Unlike Orlando Hernandez, who left Cuba in a raft and within months signed a huge contract with the New York Yankees, Oropesa bounced around in the minor leagues for eight years before signing with the Phillies. Non-roster players are a long shot at best to make the club, but after appearing in 13 spring-training games without allowing an earned run, he was stunned when manager Larry Bowa decided to carry the left-hander.
Oropesa's dream came true when he made his major-league debut in Philadelphia's 6-5 victory over the Florida Marlins on opening day. Since he now makes his home in Miami, family members and friends got to share the experience with him.
"That was fun," Oropesa said through Phillies coach Ramon Henderson, who served as his interpreter. (The pitcher speaks little English.) "The fact that we opened the season in Miami and that everybody was there made it very special for me."
And now that he's here, Oropesa says that it was worth the eight long years that he spent toiling in the minor leagues.
"Sure," the pitcher said. "I didn't want to go through the tough times, but now that I am here, I appreciate things more. Now I'll be able to help my family more."
The 29-year-old is married and has two children. He's only making the major-league minimum, but $200,000 is more than anybody ever sees in the minor leagues.
During his eight-year trek, Oropesa advanced beyond Double-A just once. In 1998, he appeared in 21 games for Fresno, Calif., San Francisco's Triple-A affiliate. His American career began in 1993 at St. Paul, Minn., which is in the independent Northern League. Drafted by Los Angeles in 1994, he spent three years in the Dodgers' farm system and most of the next four summers in the Giants' organization after San Francisco took him in the minor-league draft after the 1996 season.
There were two exceptions. In 1998, Oropesa appeared in eight games for the President Lions in Taiwan. Andy Carter, who pitched for the Phillies in 1994 and '95, once played in Taiwan and hated it, citing poor facilities and the influence of gamblers in the game.
"I only spent a month and a half there, so I really didn't get to know the country," said Oropesa. "But I did hear some comments from other players. They didn't like it at all."
The lefty also pitched for a month for the Reynosa Broncos in the Mexican League in 1999.
He arrived in Clearwater as an unknown and had an impressive spring. Facing major-league hitters, however, is quite an adjustment for anyone who is doing it for the first time. Oropesa had appeared in 11 games through Sunday and had given up eight hits and six earned runs. He also had walked seven batters and struck out six.
"The best hitters in the world are in the big leagues," said the pitcher. "I just try to stay focused and take things pitch by pitch. That's my plan. I just want to help the team, and hopefully we'll keep winning."
If life were a fairy tale, Oropesa will have a great year, win the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards and strike out the last batter in the seventh game as the Phillies clinch the World Series.
But life is a harsh reality, and the pitcher will go only as far as his talent and hard work take him. Here's one writer who hopes that it is a long journey.
Visit the Phillies Web site.