Tigres del Licey bolster their rotation with pitcher Daniel Martínez
The Tigres del Licey have made official the signing of American right-handed pitcher Daniel Martínez, who joins the blue team as a key reinforcement for the 2026-27 season of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM). The pitcher arrives after a dominant performance in Mexican baseball, establishing himself as one of the most solid pieces for the upcoming winter campaign.
A dominant arm in Mexico
Martinez, 28, a native of Fontana, California, comes off an outstanding performance with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB). During 2026, the right-hander posted a 7-1 record in 17 starts, accumulating 70 strikeouts and issuing just 32 walks. His dominance was such that he led the circuit with a 1.94 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and held opponents to a batting average of just .189.
It is important to highlight that his records were obtained in a league with a marked offensive tendency, where the collective effectiveness averaged 5.09. His earned run average was the lowest in the LMB since 2018, also becoming the first pitcher in the history of the Tijuana franchise to claim the ERA title, a merit that allowed him to be called up to the All-Star Game.
Repertoire and career
The new Licey reinforcement bases his success on a solid repertoire of four pitches:
- Four-seam fastball: 92.3 mph average.
- Cutter: 89.2 mph.
- Slider: 84.0 mph.
- Changeup: 87.8 mph.
During the last campaign, Martinez’s breaking pitches proved to be lethal, generating a 35% whiff rate from opposing batters.
Regarding his professional experience, the pitcher has six seasons in the United States minor leagues, having been part of the Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves organizations. His career includes participation at the Triple-A level, highlighting his time with the Nashville and Gwinnett affiliates.
With the arrival of Martínez, the Tigres del Licey add their second confirmed reinforcement for the upcoming tournament, joining fellow right-handed starting pitcher CJ Van Eyk in the quest to strengthen the capital team’s pitching staff.
