Andy Martín signs with the Ibaraki Astro Planets.

Outfielder Andy Martín has signed with the Ibaraki Astro Planets of the Baseball Challenge League, an independent circuit in Japan. The young Cuban will travel today with his agent Gladys Alonso to the land of the rising sun to join the Nippon squad.

Plenty of players have used the independent leagues in Japan in order to find their way to an NPB team, Dariel Álvarez was the last one to do it, with these same Ibaraki Astro Planets. Sources tell me with a grand performance in the BCL Martín might latch on with the Chiba Lotte Marines. The squad is among the teams that are enamored with the toolsy Antillean’s skillset.

Martín is an under-the-radar prospect and diamond in the rough. After hitting .297 in two years in the Futures Collegiate League (FCBL) the talented outfielder was not taken in the 2022 MLB draft and was taken in the 2019 draft by the Kansas City Royals, but Martín opted to go to college.

The speedster also played college ball at Dyersburg State Community College of the JUCO circuit, where he hit .307 in two seasons. During his time in the TCCAA (Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) he also slugged 24 homeruns, knocked in 97 runs and also stole 24 bases.

This summer he was one of the headliners for FEPCUBE and drew raves from the team’s manager Brayan Peña at various showcases with the federation. Martín has baseball in his genes, he is the brother of ex-big leaguer Leonys Martín and a star for the Cuban National Team. His father Oscar also played the game on the island. To make space for Martín on the roster the Astro Planets released his fellow countrymen Adriel Labrada.

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