Raidel Martínez reaches 31 saves in Japan professional season

August 5, 2025

Cuban Raidel Martínez solidified himself this Tuesday as the most dominant closer in the current Japan Professional Baseball League (NPB), by adding his 31st save of the season.

The right-handed pitcher from Pinar del Río was in charge of preserving the 5-2 difference in the Yomiuri Giants' victory over the Yakult Swallows in the game held at Tokyo Dome, reports the specialized website Béisbol Japonés.

A day earlier, the Cuban had added his third win so far this season—he has accumulated two losses—so he has been involved in 34 of the 46 victories that keep his team in second place in the Central League, behind the Hanshin Tigers (59-37).

In turn, he solidified himself as the absolute leader in saves throughout the circuit, ahead in his division of local Shinya Matzuyama (Chunichi Dragons) who has 28, and fellow Japanese Kaima Taira (Seibu Lions), leader of the Pacific League with 21, according to the official statistics.

In his latest appearance, the Cuban dominated without incident the three batters he faced, thereby reducing his earned run average to 1.57 runs per nine innings, as a result of seven runs allowed in 40.1 innings.

In them he has allowed only 26 hits and issued 44 strikeouts, with just nine walks.

Everything points to Raidel heading toward the close of one of his best years in Japan, where he arrived in 2018 with the Dragons. He remained with that franchise for seven seasons, the last three signing 30 or more saves.

In his first season with the Giants, he tied the historic record for consecutive appearances without allowing runs, corresponding to the Central League, by reaching 31.

Japan Baseball: Raidel Martínez's "spell" comes to an end

That complete dominance was broken in early July, when he took the loss in a game against the Hanshin Tigers, allowing two hits and giving up a walk, combined with a sacrifice fly.

That way he saw the possibility of owning the absolute record in that category disappear, which stands at 39 appearances held by Taira since 2021.

His performance in the current year allowed him to be selected to participate for the fourth time in the All-Star Series, and surprisingly became the second Cuban designated to start in that type of games.

He is currently just three saves away from reaching the 200 mark, which strengthens him as one of the best closers in the history of this demanding circuit.