Raidel Martínez Notches 9th Save of the 2026 NPB Season, One Away from Double Figures

May 4, 2026

Cuban closer Raidel Martínez, the cornerstone of the Yomiuri Giants' bullpen in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB), earned his ninth save of the 2026 season on May 1, 2026, shutting down the Hanshin Tigers in the ninth inning to secure a 5-3 Yomiuri victory.

With the save, Martínez now stands just one rescue away from reaching double figures on the season, reinforcing his standing as one of the Central League's most reliable finishers. The right-hander from Pinar del Río has been effective from the first day of the campaign, displaying the explosive fastball and poise under pressure that have made him one of the most dominant closers in NPB history.

Martínez arrived at spring training after representing Cuba in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and has seamlessly transitioned back to high-level performance with the Giants. His consistency throughout the 2026 season reflects the same dominance that made him an immediate impact player when he joined Yomiuri in 2025 — a season in which he tallied 46 saves, equaling the all-time Central League single-season record.

The pinareño's career in Japanese baseball began in 2018 with the Chunichi Dragons, with whom he spent seven seasons and accumulated multiple save titles. He led the Central League in saves in 2022 and 2024 before moving to Yomiuri, and his career NPB save total places him among the all-time leaders for foreign-born pitchers in the league's history.

Nine saves into the new campaign, Martínez is once again living up to his reputation as the man you turn to when a game is on the line — and the tenth save appears only a matter of time.