Nearly three months into the 2025 Nippon Professional Baseball season, Yomiuri Giants closer Raidel Martinez remains untouchable. The Cuban right-hander has yet to allow a run in 26 appearances and is a perfect 21-for-21 in save opportunities.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for the 28-year-old. Martinez entered 2025 with a sparkling 1.71 career ERA over seven seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, including back-to-back sub-one ERA campaigns in 2022 and 2023. In fact, he didn’t surrender his first earned run in 2023 until August 13. Now with the Giants, could Martinez be on track to replicate – or even surpass – that remarkable stretch of dominance?
A Dragon is Born
Martinez began his professional career in his native Cuba, debuting in the 2015-2016 Cuban National Series with Vegueros de Pinar del Río. He joined the Dragon’s development pipeline in 2017, part of Chunichi’s well-established presence in Cuba, one of the strongest among international clubs, along with the SoftBank Hawks.
Raidel Martinez is a cheat code https://t.co/GqWP1SgfOJ
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) July 7, 2024
From the outset, the team focused on refining the wiry flamethrower’s skillset to suit Japanese baseball. After spending all of 2017 on Chunichi’s farm team, Martinez made his NPB debut in 2018, though he struggled to a 6.65 ERA across seven appearances. But 2019 marked his breakout: he posted a 2.66 ERA over 40.2 innings with 48 strikeouts, nabbing 14 holds and eight saves along the way.
Raidel Martinez, ungodly splitter with nearly 50% whiff and 90% ground ball rate https://t.co/G8lH8PBtOq
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) December 27, 2023
He built on that success in 2020 with a 1.13 ERA in 40 innings, 49 strikeouts, and 21 saves, firmly establishing himself as one of Japan’s most electric arms. In 2021, he increased his splitter usage significantly, leading to a ground ball rate over 60% and an elite 1.68 FIP.
CUBA NAS SEMIS
Cuba vence a Austrália por 4 a 3 e irá para Miami jogar a semi-final!
????????????????????????????????#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/LqnxAT5GvN
— BMA – Beisebol Mundo Afora (@beisebolmafora) March 15, 2023
From 2022 to 2024, Martinez cemented his status as the league’s premier closer. Over 160.1 innings during that span, he posted a jaw-dropping 0.84 ERA, racked up 183 strikeouts, and collected 114 saves – the most in NPB across those three seasons. He also contributed to Cuba’s miracle semifinal run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, recording a crucial save against Australia in the quarterfinals.
A Giant Change of Scenery
???????? Raidel Martinez is officially a Yomiuri Giant pic.twitter.com/sq0bFTNh5D
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) January 26, 2025
In December 2024, Martinez departed Nagoya to sign a four-year, ¥5 billion ($32.6 million) contract with the Yomiuri Giants. He stated that one of his primary motivations was a desire to win, as the Dragons had failed to reach the postseason in every year of his career. Now, he would become the stopper for the reigning Central League pennant winners, pushing superstar Taisei into a setup role.
Raidel Martinez’s closer entrance video ????????
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) April 24, 2025
Martinez recorded his first save as a Giant on March 30 and has since converted all 20 of his subsequent opportunities. As of June 13, he owns a spotless 0.00 ERA, a 1.92 FIP, and a 0.82 WHIP over 25.2 frames, with a 24.5% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate, and 50% groundball rate. He’s averaging 95.1 mph on his four-seam fastball.
One of the very few silver linings of the dead ball era is that most games are very competitive and tight and so elite closers get more save opportunities.
Raidel Martinez has a 0.00 ERA and is on pace for 53 saves.
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) June 7, 2025
While some of his underlying metrics have slightly declined from his peak years with Chunichi, the results speak for themselves. Opposing hitters have become more aggressive early in counts, contributing to a modest dip in strikeouts, but Martinez continues to thrive thanks to his splitter, which remains his most effective weapon with a 40.3% whiff rate and .063 opponent batting average.
Had Martinez chosen to test the Major League Baseball market, he likely would have drawn interest surpassing that of other top NPB relievers in recent years, such as Robert Suarez and Yuki Matsui. Instead, he remains in Japan, anchoring the Giants’ bullpen as they push for postseason contention.
Yomiuri currently holds a 31-29-2 record – four games out of first place and just half a game behind a playoff spot. Fans are eagerly anticipating the chance to see Martinez pitch on the October stage, as well as represent Cuba again in the 2026 World Baseball Classic next March.
