Related videos:
The Provincial Directorate of INDER in Pinar del Río issued an official statement on Monday to dispel rumors circulating on social media regarding the whereabouts and situation of pitchers Liván Moinelo and Raidel Martínez, confirming that both are in their hometown preparing to travel to Japan.
The information was shared by Cubadebate on its Facebook page, following contact with the Provincial Baseball Commissioner Heriberto Suárez Pereda.
"In response to the comments circulated on social media, the Provincial Directorate of Inder in Pinar del Río informs that, after contacting Provincial Baseball Commissioner Heriberto Suárez Pereda, athletes Livan Moinelo and Raidel Martínez are currently in their home province, preparing to fulfill their respective contracts in the Japanese league," the text states.
Speculations intensified because both pitchers had not reported to the spring training of their respective teams in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) following the elimination of Cuba in the VI World Baseball Classic, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from March 6 to 11. Cuba was eliminated from the tournament with a record of 2-2 after losing to Canada 2-7 in the decisive game.
The journalist Francys Romero reported on Facebook that the flight for both baseball players was expected on Monday, March 23.
Moinelo, a left-handed pitcher for the SoftBank Hawks, comes off a historic season in the NPB 2025: 24 starts, 12 wins, 3 losses, an ERA of 1.46, and 172 strikeouts, numbers that earned him the MVP award of the Pacific League, the first for a Cuban and the first won by a foreign player since 2017. His team also captured the Japan Series 2025 with his contribution.
Raidel Martínez, closer for the Yomiuri Giants, had an equally dominant season in 2025: 58 appearances, 46 saves, and an ERA of 1.11 over 56.2 innings. In December 2024, the player from Pinar del Río signed a four-year, $32.5 million contract with Yomiuri, the largest contract ever awarded to a Latino in the history of NPB.
Both players operate under the model that allows Cuban athletes to compete in foreign leagues without relinquishing their status with the Cuban Baseball Federation. This arrangement also enabled them to be called up to the "Team Asere," which was led by Germán Mesa in the World Baseball Classic.
The regular season of the NPB begins in late March, so the window for both pitchers to join their teams before the Opening Day is tight but sufficient, as confirmed by the SoftBank coaching staff.
Filed under: