Raidel Martinez in Japanese baseball. Photo: Yuichi Terawaki.

The Chunichi Dragons and the Cuban Baseball Federation reported Monday that Pinar del Rio closer Raidel Martinez suffers discomfort in his lower back and will not pitch again in the remainder of the 2023 Japanese Professional Baseball League.

The fast serpentine will undergo three weeks of rest and should arrive in Cuba between October 8 and 9.

Although it is a minor injury, there is no decision at this time on whether or not he will be able to participate in the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile 2023.

The 26-year-old righty currently appears as the Central League's co-leader in saves with 32. His team is already eliminated from the playoffs, so there's no need to put his health at risk for the last two weeks of the schedule.

Raidel has spent six seasons in NPB, all with the Nagoya club. In the 243 games he has seen action, he has 123 saves, 46 hold points, 294 strikeouts and a 1.85 ERA.

(Taken from JIT)