# Raidel Martínez records first save of the 2026 season in Japanese baseball

**Date:** 04/08/2026

Cuban pitcher Raidel Martínez opened his 2026 season in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league with a save in the Yomiuri Giants' 3-2 victory over the DeNA BayStars at the Tokyo Dome on April 5, according to the Cuban News Agency (ACN).


The hard-throwing closer from Pinar del Río ran into some trouble in the ninth inning, allowing a run on a double by Toshiro Miyazaki, but he struck out the final batter to preserve the lead and close out the game. With this save, Martínez brings his career NPB total to 231 rescues, putting him 19 away from the milestone of 250.


The 29-year-old right-hander previously participated in the World Baseball Classic before joining the Yomiuri Giants' spring training camp in good shape, ACN reported. After seven seasons with the Chunichi Dragons — where he compiled 166 saves and tied the Central League single-season record with 46 saves in 2025 — Martínez remains one of the most effective closers in the Japanese circuit, with a career ERA of 1.64.