After another 30 save season with the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon League Raidel Martínez was named the team’s MVP. Although the right-hander is out for the rest of the season with an injury he has by far been the team’s most valuable piece. Martínez wins the award for the second year in a row.
This year he finished with an ERA of 0.39 after only allowing two earned runs in 46 ⅔ of work on the campaign. Out of the 31 hits he has allowed this season only two have left the yard. No pitcher has saved games in Japan over the last three years.
No va más, el estelar cerrador cubano de los Chunichi Dragons, Raidel Martínez, no lanzará más en lo que resta de temporada (le quedan once juegos al equipo) debido a la molestia sufrida (cadera y glúteos) el pasado sábado. El vueltabajero registró otra gran temporada en la #NPB. https://t.co/EbfSHBmEdI pic.twitter.com/UgjpWMdG2P
— Drian Bernal ⚾️ / 🇨🇺🇪🇨 (@Drianrogelio) September 18, 2023
The “flamethrower” from Pinar del Río has struck out 62 opposing batters the season that amounts to an average the of 11.96 strikeouts per nine-innings. To his credit, he has only allowed four walks this year, demonstrating how much he has matured as a pitcher. His Achilles heel when he arrived in Japan was his control.
During his time in the land of the rising sun Martínez has a record of 12-15, 1.85 ERA and has saved in 123 games during his six seasons in the Nippon League. In 252 ⅔ innings pitched in the Asian circuit the hurler has struck out 294 batters, has a 0.92 WHIP and a S0/9 10.5.