Yomiuri Giants Pitcher Raidel Martinez Becomes First Foreign-Born Player to Reach 250 Saves in NPB
2 sources · Japan
Who reported this
- Asahi Shimbun
- Kyodo News
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Raidel Martinez of the Yomiuri Giants became the first foreign-born pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball history to record 250 saves on Thursday. The achievement occurred during a 5-3 victory over the Chunichi Dragons at Tokyo Dome, where Martinez pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 38th save of the season. This milestone makes the 29-year-old Cuban pitcher eligible for membership in the Meikyukai, an elite club for players with 2,000 hits, 200 wins, or 250 saves. Martinez is the sixth pitcher overall to reach this mark. He achieved the feat in his 411th NPB game, which is faster than the previous record of 435 games set by Kazuhiro Sasaki. Martinez joined the Dragons as a development player in 2017 and has recorded over 20 saves every year since 2020. He led the Central League in saves in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
How each side framed it
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- The reporting emphasized the speed of the achievement and the historical significance of being the first foreign pitcher to do so.
- Centre
- The reporting focused on the statistical milestones and the player's personal expressions of gratitude.
Sources
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