The Cardenales de Lara have announced their first playing signing for the 2024-25 LVPB season. They’ve signed right-handed starting pitcher Keyvius Sampson. He’s no stranger to the Cardenales as he gears up for his second winter in Venezuela.
Sampson, 33, was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 4th round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Forest High School in Ocala, Florida. He would spend 2009-2014 pitching in the Padres organization before he was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.
He made his debut with the Reds in 2015. Sampson made 12 starts in 13 appearances, posting a 2-6 record and a 6.54 ERA, striking out 42 batters in 52.1 innings. He would also pitch with the Reds in 2016 but only made two starts in 18 appearances out of the bullpen. Sampson went 0-1, posting a 4.35 ERA in 39.1 innings and striking out 42 batters.
At the end of 2016, Sampson would hit free agency. For the 2017 season, Sampson pitched at the Triple-A level between the Diamondbacks and Marlins organizations. He would become a free agent once again.
2018 brought new experiences for Sampson when he signed with the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles. Making 29 starts in 30 appearances, he went 13-8, posting a 4.68 ERA, striking out 195 batters in 161.2 innings of work. Awarded for his performance, he signed with the San Francisco Giants for the 2019 season.
Sampson only pitched a few games between 2019 and 2021 between the Giants and White Sox minor league affiliates. After the White Sox released him, Sampson joined the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association. He pitched much better, making a return to the rotation, compiling a 5-1 record and a 3.93 ERA in seven starts.
After the 2021 season, Sampson took his talent to Taiwan, signing with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the CPBL for the 2022 season. He would throw well in 10 starts before returning to the United States, finishing his year with the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League.
Sampson remained in Taiwan for the 2023 season, once again with the Lions, making 19 starts in 21 games, going 8-5 with a 3.11 ERA, and punching out 115 batters through 110 innings. He would follow the same pattern in 2022 for this season, beginning the 2024 campaign with the Fubon Guardians. After struggling in five starts, he’s pitched this year with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League, making seven starts, posting a 4-0 record, a 3.62 ERA, tallying 31 strikeouts.
He first pitched with the Cardenales de Lara during the 2022-23 season. He would make six starts in seven appearances, going 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA, only collecting 19 strikeouts in 31 innings. We will have to see how effective Sampson will be in helping to anchor the Cardenales rotation.
Photo Credit: Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Keyvius Sampson (48) delivers a pitch. (Photo by Justin Berl/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
