Cuban Closer Raidel Martínez Reaches 250 Saves, Joins Japan's Meikyukai Hall of Fame

Foto: OnCubaNews

September 14, 2026

Cuban closer Raidel Martínez of the Yomiuri Giants recorded his 250th career save in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) on September 10, 2026, becoming the first foreign-born pitcher in league history to reach the mark and earning induction into the Meikyukai, Japanese baseball's unofficial hall of fame for its most accomplished players.

The Meikyukai admits hitters with 2,000 career hits and pitchers with either 200 wins or 250 saves. Martínez, 29, became only the second non-Japanese player ever inducted and the first foreign reliever to qualify for the honor.

The Pinar del Río native reached the milestone in just 411 appearances, fewer than the 435 it took Japanese closer Kazuhiro Sasaki, the previous record-holder for speed to 250 saves. Japanese media reported that Martínez was moved to tears during his postgame interview after the achievement.

Martínez arrived in Japan in 2018 with the Chunichi Dragons before signing with the Yomiuri Giants in 2025. He currently leads the Central League in saves this season and has topped that category in four separate campaigns, cementing his standing as one of the most dominant closers in recent NPB history.

Fuente: OnCubaNews; Cubadebate; Granma

Raidel Martínez Raidel Martínez

Sports, Baseball, Pitcher, Professor

Cuban baseball player for the Pinar del Río Baseball team, who made his debut in the LV National Baseball Series, 2015-2016 as a right-handed pitcher. He has had a good performance in his brief trajectory in these campaigns. He participated in the IV World Baseball Classic in 2017, as well as in the Pan American Baseball Championship U-23 held that same year.