Ariel Martínez has been the Cuban National Team catcher for quite sometime now, but it does not seem like the Nippon Ham Fighters star is interested in doing the same thing for the upcoming Premier 12 this November. This season for the Japanese squad he has played all 81 of his games at first base and has only caught 31 of 152 games during his time in Hokkaido.
The player had this to say to Cuba Grand Slam during an interview, “I told the Federation when they came in June that I was not playing, that I was only playing first base.” “My team is fighting for a playoff spot and I am also a free agent this offseason, and I want to find a new contract.”
“We will finish play here, in November, almost at the beginning of the Premier 12, therefore I will not have that preparation time as I had for the World Baseball Classic. They are putting me on all the teams that are made as a catcher and I think that I am not going to catch, I think no, I am not going to catch.”
During him in the land of the rising sun Martínez is slashing .255/.345/.420/.765 with 40 homeruns and 168 runs batted in, this also includes back-to-back All-Star selections with Nippon Ham. Whether he catches or not expect Martínez to play a big role with Cuba in the Premier 12.
Cuba’s 60-man roster for the Premier 12:
Catchers (6): Andrys Pérez, Andy Cosme, Yosvani Alarcón, Rafael Viñales, Ariel Martínez y Jorge Yoan Rojas.
Infielders (15): Erisbel Arruebarrena, Luis Vicente Mateo, Christian Rodríguez, Roberto Baldoquín, Yadil Mujica, Yuliesky Remón, Alexei Ramírez, Osvaldo Abreu, Jean Walters, Tailon Sánchez, Ernesto Martínez Jr, William Saavedra, Guillermo Avilés, Dayan García y Yoan Moncada.
Outfielders (14): Yoelkis Guibert, Lázaro Armenteros, José Noroña, Alfredo Despaigne, Denis Peña, Roel Santos, Raico Santos, Yaser Julio González, Over Cremet, Francisco Martínez, Ariel Hecheverría, Yadir Drake, Eduardo Blanco y Carlos de la Tejera.
Pitchers (25): Liván Moinelo, Raidel Martínez, Yoennis Yera, Yoan López, Geonel Gutiérrez, Yankiel Mauris, Frank Abel Álvarez, Raymond Figueredo, Yosiel Serrano, Leodan Reyes, Osdany Rodríguez, Andy Vargas, Frank Luis Medina, Erly Casanova, Darío Sarduy, Yusniel Padrón-Artiles, Pavel Hernández, Ronald Bolaños, Frank Herrera, Maykel Taylor, Enyer Fernández, Randy Martínez, Branlis Rodríguez, Randy Cueto y Danny Betancourt.