Raidel Martinez in Cuban baseball

Havana, November 12 (RHC)-- Five Cubans signed contracts with different Japanese baseball clubs on Friday, bringing to nine the number of players from the island in that country's Professional League (NPB).

They are pitchers Raidel Martínez and Yariel Rodríguez, and trainer Omar Linares, who renewed their contracts with the Chunichi Dragons, as well as starter Guillermo García and pitcher Frank Abel Álvarez, signed for the first time with that club.

The contract signings took place this Friday at Havana's Latin American Stadium - the main one in the country, in the presence of the vice-president of the island's Federation, Yosvani Aragón.

Also present was the newly appointed national commissioner, Juan Reinaldo Perez, who assured Radio Habana Cuba that there are now nine Cubans signed in Japan under the protection of the Cuban Baseball Federation.

He confirmed that Alfredo Despaigne and Yurisbel Gracial, both from the SoftBank Falcons, and Ariel Martínez (Dragons) will be in Japan for another year, and the contract of star left-handed pitcher Liván Moinelo is still being negotiated.