Ariel Martínez "signs" with Fighters and with the World Baseball Classic

December 22, 2022

"Cuba is making a great effort to assemble a good team and I think we can fight until the end," he commented on the upcoming March nations event.

Ariel Martínez today thanked the opportunity to represent Cuba again in the Japanese Professional Baseball League, whose next season will host him in the ranks of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

"I feel happy and honored by this new challenge, after five years with another team," said the former member of the Chunichi Dragons after officially signing the contract with his new franchise.

"It is a great responsibility, not only for me and my family, but for representing Cuba and its baseball," he emphasized in the Adolfo Luque Hall of Estadio Latinoamericano.

"Doing things well also means contributing to the aspirations of other Cuban players," he added after the protocol ceremony that also required the signature of the president of the sports federation on the Island, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo.

Martínez, 26 years old, felt that after the period in which he was considered a prospect, it is time to show stable performance, a purpose that influenced his decision for a team where he hopes to perform as a regular.

"When I received opportunities I proved that I could do things well," he stated as part of an exchange with media in which he declared himself willing not to abandon catching.

"I want to keep doing all three things," he said regarding his forays as an outfielder and infielder, roles that he also showed willingness to assume in the upcoming V World Baseball Classic.

"Cuba is making a great effort to assemble a good team and I think we can fight until the end," he commented in that regard.

"The quality of our baseball has always been proven and it is confirmed when we face in Japan players who can now be our rivals," he stated before declaring himself determined to achieve good offensive form that allows him to respond from any position.