Right-hander Raidel Martínez spoke with the Japanese press before leaving for Cuba to take a well-deserved vacation after the best season of his career as a professional player in the Japanese Professional Baseball League.
“I feel very comfortable with this team and it is a good team. I really don’t want to leave the Dragons, but right now I’m not in a position to say I can go back. The fans have been very supportive and are like another family to me. I get very emotional when I think about the last eight years,” expressed the hurler with heartfelt words.
Remembering everything he experienced in Nagoya in route to becoming the best closer in Japan. Although Chunichi Dragons wanted to retain him, team president Hironi Yano announced on the 18th of November that Martínez is expected to be released from the protected player list. If so, he will become a free agent in December and will be able to negotiate with any NPB team, including Chunichi.
Raidel Martínez has made history by becoming the NPB Pacific League saves leader with an impressive total of 43 saves. This milestone not only means a personal record for the talented Cuban reliever, but also establishes a new mark for Latin pitchers in one of the baseball’s competitive circuits.
In 58 innings pitched this season, Martínez has showed exceptional ability to control and dominate the opposing hitters allowing just six runs in that period reflects not only his ability to shut down hitters, but also his ability to remain focused and effective in high-pressure situations.
His 59 strikeouts also underscores his ability to make hitters face his pitches without making any kind of contact, which is a direct testament to his talent and training. One of the metrics that stands out is his ERA, which has fell to 1.71 for his career.
These is an outstanding numbers that place Martínez among the best pitchers in the league and distinguishes him as a reliable reliever. His 166 saves in his NPB career, place him as the all-time leader among foreign closers in the league’s history. By remaining another year in the land of the rising sun, his legend will only continue to grow.