◆ Pacific League: Rakuten Eagles vs. Nippon-Ham (May 5th, Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi)

Rakuten Eagles announced on the 6th that they have reached a contract agreement with former Chunichi Dragons pitcher Junior Marte (31).

Marte, a native of the Dominican Republic, played for the Chunichi Dragons in 2015. The right-hander, who throws fastballs exceeding 150 km/h, appeared in 35 games last season, recording a 1-4 record with a 1.95 ERA, and was a key part of bullpen. He has appeared in a total of 103 games in Major League Baseball. This season, he made one appearance for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.

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Rakuten Eagles has successfully addressed their weakness in relief pitcher. Marte possesses a fastball that exceeds 150 km/h, and is expected to be a key player in their bullpen.

Currently, Rakuten Eagles 's relief pitching situation remains difficult. They fought hard in March and April, but their relief ERA in May was 5.18, and in June it was a struggling 5.46. There were even games where they couldn't hold onto a large seven-run lead and lost.

inning In another runs, the worst pitching is 50 runs in the eighth inning. Although closer Fujihira has maintained a stable pitch since the start of the season, the instability of the pitcher lineup before transitioning to closer has become apparent. If a new right-handed foreign pitcher can cover the 7th or 8th inning, it would be a big deal. Rookies like Kutani and Nakagomi are also developing, and Marte's addition could improve the kitchen situation.

Currently, the team is at the bottom with 29 wins, 46 losses, and 1 tie. Even so, since Yoshii took over, the team has shown signs of improvement with a 6-6 record. Acquiring a right-handed player who can make an immediate impact mid-season also shows their unwavering determination. pitcher The team has been reorganized and aims to rise again.