Baseball · Players · No. 1
Wande Olabisi
The Lagos-born outfielder who became the first Nigerian-born player ever drafted into Major League Baseball.
- 2009MLB draft (Padres)
- 1stNigerian-born draftee
- StanfordCollege
- High-AHighest level
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Wande Olabisi in our words
Wande Olabisi is one of the most successful baseball players. He was born on 18 March 1988, in Lagos, Nigeria.
He became the first Nigerian born player to be selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft; he attended Stanford University where he played college baseball.
From Stanford to the Padres
Born in Lagos on 18 March 1988, Olabisi played college baseball for Stanford University. In 2009 the San Diego Padres selected him in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, making him the first Nigerian-born player ever chosen. An outfielder, he rose through the Padres’ minor-league system to the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm.
After baseball
After his playing career he studied at Harvard Business School and built a career in consulting and investment. His draft remains a landmark for Nigerian baseball, a sign that the country’s players can reach professional level.
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Quick answers
Wande Olabisi: quick answers
Who is Wande Olabisi?
A Lagos-born baseball outfielder who, in 2009, became the first Nigerian-born player selected in the Major League Baseball draft, by the San Diego Padres, after playing college baseball at Stanford.
Did Wande Olabisi play in the MLB?
No. He played in the Padres’ minor-league system, reaching the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, before retiring and going on to Harvard Business School and a career in business.