The Cuban closer, Raidel Martínez, achieved a remarkable feat on Sunday, joining an elite group in the history of Japanese professional baseball by completing his third straight season with 40 or more saves in the NPB. This achievement has only been matched by two other pitchers in the league's entire history.
Martínez secured his 40th save of the 2026 season with the Yomiuri Giants, becoming the third pitcher to reach this milestone. He joins the ranks of Hitoshi Iwase—who accomplished this with the Chunichi Dragons from 2005 to 2007—and Dennis Sarfate, who did so with the SoftBank Hawks between 2015 and 2017, as reported by Pelota Cubana on social media.
The pitcher from Pinar del Río has improved each season: 43 saves in 2024 with the Chunichi Dragons, 46 in 2025 with the Yomiuri Giants, and the 40 he achieved this past Sunday with the same team.
This latest achievement is not the only milestone Martínez has reached recently. On September 10, the Cuban right-hander reached 250 career saves in the NPB, becoming the first foreign pitcher to hit that mark in the Japanese league. This accomplishment has opened the doors to the Meikyukai, the exclusive Club of Extraordinary Players in the NPB.
With 252 saves recorded by the end of Sunday, Martínez matched the legendary Kazuhiro Sasaki for third place on the NPB's all-time saves list, led by Iwase himself with 407 career saves.
The speed at which Martínez has climbed the ranks is noteworthy: he reached 250 saves in just 411 games, surpassing Sasaki's pace, who needed 435 appearances to achieve the same number.
Born in Pinar del Río in October 1996, Martínez arrived in Japan in 2017 after signing with the Chunichi Dragons. Over nearly a decade, he has established himself as one of the league's most dominant closers. In December 2024, he signed a record-breaking contract for Latin pitchers with the Yomiuri Giants, Japan's most popular baseball team, further cementing his legendary status.
Raidel Martínez and His Impact on Japanese Baseball
Who are the other pitchers with three consecutive 40-save seasons in NPB history?
Besides Raidel Martínez, the pitchers who have achieved three consecutive 40-save seasons in NPB history are Hitoshi Iwase and Dennis Sarfate.
What is the significance of reaching 250 career saves in the NPB?
Reaching 250 career saves in the NPB is significant because it marks the pitcher as one of the league's top performers and, in Raidel Martínez's case, made him the first foreign pitcher to achieve this milestone, granting him entry to the prestigious Meikyukai.
How does Raidel Martínez's pace compare to Kazuhiro Sasaki's in terms of reaching 250 saves?
Raidel Martínez reached 250 saves in 411 games, which is faster than Kazuhiro Sasaki, who required 435 games to reach the same milestone.