Tigres del Licey bolster their rotation with pitcher Daniel Martínez
The Tigres del Licey have made official the signing of American pitcher Daniel Martínez as a key piece for the upcoming 2026-27 season of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM). The 28-year-old hurler joins the blue organization after completing a dominant performance in Mexican baseball.
Martínez, a native of Fontana, California, comes off a standout performance with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB). During the last campaign, the right-hander posted a 7-1 record in 17 starts, establishing himself as one of the most dominant arms in the circuit by leading the league in ERA with a brilliant 1.94, along with a 1.03 WHIP and holding opponents to a mere .189 batting average.
A historic performance in Mexico
Martínez’s impact on the LMB did not go unnoticed, especially considering he achieved such numbers in a league with a highly offensive environment. His 1.94 ERA stands as the lowest for a leader in this department since 2018, also becoming the first pitcher in the history of the Toros de Tijuana franchise to achieve such a distinction. His quality was recognized with an invitation to the league’s All-Star Game.
Martínez’s ability to dominate opposing hitters is reflected in his advanced statistics, with his breaking pitches generating a 35% whiff rate during the 2026 season.
Repertoire and career
Licey’s new reinforcement possesses an arsenal composed of four pitches that allow him to maintain control over the strike zone:
- Four-seam fastball: 92.3 mph average.
- Cutter: 89.2 mph.
- Slider: 84.0 mph.
- Changeup: 87.8 mph.
His professional experience includes six seasons in the United States minor leagues, where he was part of the Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves organizations, reaching the Triple-A level in the 2018 and 2024 seasons. With this addition, the capital city team continues to strengthen its pitching staff, adding Martínez along with fellow right-handed starter CJ Van Eyk as part of its strategy for the upcoming LIDOM campaign.
