Marlins sign Osborne

Donovan Osborne is keeping his dream alive.

The 1987 Carson High graduate had his contract purchased on Friday by the Florida Marlins from the independent Atlantic League Long Island Ducks. The left-handed pitcher will report to Florida's Triple A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes.

"Donovan was amazing for us," Ducks manager Don McCormack said. "We knew going into the season that he would be one of the first to be picked up. We wish him the best and hope he can continue to have the success he had here with the Marlins organization."

Osborne joins Albuquerque after leading the Atlantic League in complete games (4) and shutouts (2). The southpaw owned a 1.99 ERA in 63 innings pitched, which ranked second in the league, and his 49 strikeouts were third best in the league. He was on a streak of four straight complete games prior to his signing.

Over his Major League career, Osborne has a 49-46 record with a 4.03 earned run average. He broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1992 and had his best year with the Cardinals in 1996 when he went 13-9 with a 3.53 E.R.A.

After not pitching in the Major Leagues for three years, he came back with the Chicago Cubs in 2002 where he pitched briefly before being released after an injury. He was with the Mets during spring training in 2003, but was eventually released.

In 2004, he pitched briefly again with the New York Yankees before being released again. During spring training this year, he tried to make the Arizona Diamondbacks as a relief pitcher before the club released him.