Daniel Martinez Joins Licey After Historic Mexican League Season

The Tigres del Licey have strengthened their rotation with the signing of American right-hander Daniel Martinez, who arrives in the Dominican Republic after one of the most productive pitching seasons of his professional career.

Martinez, 28, went 7-1 with a 1.94 ERA in 17 starts for the Toros de Tijuana during the 2026 Liga Mexicana de Béisbol season. He also posted a 1.03 WHIP, struck out 70 hitters and allowed opponents to hit just .189 against him.

A Historic Season In Mexico

The numbers placed Martinez at the top of three major pitching categories in Mexico: ERA, WHIP and opponents’ batting average. His 1.94 ERA was the lowest by an ERA champion in the league since Andre Rienzo posted a 0.76 mark for the Acereros de Monclova in 2018.

Martinez also became the first pitcher in Toros de Tijuana history to win the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol ERA title. His performance came in a league that finished the 2026 regular season with a collective 5.09 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP, adding context to the right-hander’s run-prevention numbers.

The Californian’s season also earned him a place in the LMB All-Star Game. He was one of seven Tijuana players selected for the midseason event.

Four-Pitch Mix Gives Licey Another Starting Option

Martinez’s arsenal includes a four-seam fastball that averaged 92.3 mph, along with a cutter at 89.2 mph, a slider at 84.0 mph and a changeup at 87.8 mph. His breaking pitches generated a 35% swing-and-miss rate during the 2026 campaign.

That combination gives Licey an experienced starter whose recent success has been built on limiting both baserunners and quality contact. His 1.03 WHIP was the best mark among the league’s ERA leaders, while his .189 opponents’ average reflected the difficulty hitters had making consistent contact against him.

From Oakland’s Draft To Triple-A

Martinez’s path to LIDOM began in the United States. The Oakland Athletics selected him in the 26th round of the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, and he spent six seasons in the American minor leagues with the Athletics and later the Atlanta Braves.

He reached Triple-A with the Nashville Sounds in 2018 and returned to the highest level of the minor leagues in 2024 with the Gwinnett Stripers. His professional record in the U.S. minor leagues includes 96 games, 31 starts, 256.1 innings and 262 strikeouts.

After leaving the Braves organization, Martinez continued his career in Mexico. He appeared for the Jaguares de Nayarit in the Mexican Pacific League before joining Tijuana for the 2026 season, where his performance elevated him into one of the circuit’s most effective starting pitchers.

Licey Continues Building Its Rotation

The signing makes Martinez the second import announced by Licey for the 2026-27 LIDOM season. The club previously announced right-hander CJ Van Eyk, another starting pitcher who has experience in the Toronto Blue Jays organization and made his Major League debut during the 2026 season.

For Licey, the two additions provide early depth to a rotation being assembled for the Dominican winter league. Martinez brings a different profile from his American minor-league résumé: he enters the Dominican season immediately after establishing himself as the ERA leader in Mexico and demonstrating an ability to suppress opposing batting average and baserunners.

LIDOM, the Dominican Republic’s professional winter baseball league, is one of the country’s most prominent sporting competitions and features a mix of Dominican players, major-league prospects and international imports. For Martinez, the move represents another step in a career that has taken him from the U.S. minor leagues to a breakout season in Mexico and now to Dominican baseball.