This Monday, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, confirmed that seven players and one coach belonging to the Cuban Federation will be contracted by the Nippon Baseball League in 2026.
Heading up this crowd is reigning Nippon League MVP, Livan Moinelo. The left-hander from Pinar del Río,Cuba led the entire NPB with a 1.46 ERA, whole also striking out 172 batters and posting a 12-3 record, helping his team capture its second consecutive league title. The 29-year-old starter becames only the fourth Latin American player to be named MVP of the regular season in the prestigious Japanese league, following Venezuelans Roberto Petagine (2001), Alex Cabrera (2002), and Alex Ramírez (2008 and 2009).
Moinelo also became the first Latino to win the MVP and the Reliever of the Year (2020) in the history of the Nippon League, a season in which he led the circuit in holds. Over his nine seasons in the NPB with the Hawks, two as a starter he sports a 42-17 record and a 1.80 earned run average. This includes a 23-8 and a 1.66 ERA over his last two campaigns.
Another Pinar del Río native, Raidel Martínez also stood out in the Nippon circuit last season. Martínez saved 46 games on the season making it the second time in his career has hit that statistical mark. The flamethrowing right-hander also posted a sparkling 1.11 earned run average and fanned 65 batters in 56 ⅔ innings pitched, while also only walking 14 on the campaign.
Martínez also became the first pitcher to achieve this feat with two different teams (Chunichi Dragons in 2024 and Yomiuri Giants in 2025). In the history of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), only a select group of pitchers have managed to record 40 or more saves in multiple seasons. They are, Hitoki Iwase (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010), Dennis Sarfate (2015, 2016, 2017), Raidel Martínez (2024, 2025),Kyuji Fujikawa (2007, 2011).
In Moreno’s case he becomes another top Cuban prospect to enter the SoftBank Hawks development program. The talented shortstop from Villa Clara, Cuba led the Cuban National Youth Championship in hits and also had a spectacular start to the U-18 Baseball World Cup. With five hits in seven at-bats (.714 AVG), was key to Cuba’s two victories during the tournament. Moreno, who already debuted in the National Series with Villa Clara last season (63 SNB), is expected to be a future star with the defending NPB Champions.
FCB players signed by NPB:
Liván Moinelo LHP (SoftBank Hawks)
Darío Sarduy LHP (SoftBank Hawks)
Jonathan Moreno SS (SoftBank Hawks)
Raidel Martínez RHP (Yomiuri Giants)
Randy Martínez LHP (Chunichi Dragons)
Christian Rodríguez SS (Chunichi Dragons)
Omar Linares (Coach) (Chunichi Dragons)
Ariel Martínez IF-DH (Nippon Ham Fighters)