164 kilometers per hour.
A foreign pitcher with a 164-kilometer fastball has arrived in Japan’s independent baseball league. Rodolfo Martinez, 29, a right-hander for the Tokushima Indigo Sox of the Shikoku Island League Plus.
Martinez threw a 164-kilometer-per-hour fastball in the sixth inning against the Ehime Mandarin Fire Rats on April 24. It was the fastest fastball ever thrown in the Nippon Independent League and nearly the fastest in Nippon Professional Baseball. Martinez has thrown fastballs in the high 160s on several occasions토스카지노.
The fastest fastball in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is 166 kilometers per hour. It was set by foreign pitcher Thiago Vieira of the Yomiuri Giants in 2021.
The previous best by a Japanese player was 165 km, thrown by “monster pitchers” Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines) and Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) when they were with the Nippon Ham Fighters. Sasaki, whose best was 164 until last year, reached 165 for the first time this year.
After striking out the first batter on a hard fastball, Martinez struck out the second batter on a changeup.
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Two innings of one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. He was praised for his powerful fastball and sharp slider.
Martinez spent time with the Triple-A Sacramento Rivercats, the San Francisco Giants’ affiliate in the majors. He joined Tokushima in the middle of the season. In nine appearances, he went 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA. In 13 1/3 innings pitched on April 24, he struck out 15 and walked seven.
Martinez’s fastball averaged 159.3 mph on the day, the Tokushima club said.
The Shikoku Island League Plus is made up of teams with ties to the four prefectures of Shikoku. It includes Tokushima, Ehime, Kagawa Olive Giants, and Kochi Fighting Dogs.
Foreign players playing in the Nippon Independent League aim to make it to Nippon Professional Baseball. Martinez first caught the attention of professional teams with his fastball. Tokushima has produced a professional player through the Nippon Professional Baseball Draft for 10 consecutive years.
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