He is the first pitcher to win the MVP in a Japanese championship series, since Masahiro Tanaka in 2013
14ymedio/SwingCompleto, Havana, October 20, 2025 — Cuban pitcher Liván Moinelo led the SoftBank Hawks of Fukuoka on Monday to compete for the Japanese Professional Baseball League title. His performance in the decisive duel against Hokkaido’s Nippon Ham Wrestlers to qualify for the final led him to win the most valuable player award (MVP) of that series.
In his second appearance in seven games, with only four days of rest, he completed seven innings — as in his first appearance — and allowed three hits and a single run, in addition to giving a base on balls and six strikeouts, to take the 2-1 victory against the team from Hokkaido.
His two appearances against the Wrestlers, with 14 innings pitched and a 0.64 ERA, allowed Moinelo to be the first pitcher to win MVP in a championship series since Masahiro Tanaka in the 2013 campaign.
Now the challenge will be to maintain dominance in the Japan Series from next Saturday, when the Hawks seek the throne of Japanese baseball against the Hanshin Tigers.
Now the challenge will be to maintain dominance in the Japan Series from next Saturday
In what was just his second season as the starter of the Fukuoka franchise, the 29-year-old from Pinar del Río led the ERA with an average of 1.46 runs per game, which was a remarkable improvement from what he achieved a year ago, with another great figure, 1.86. He struck out 155 opponents last year and exceeded that figure this season with 172 strike-outs, while reducing his number of bases per ball, from 47 to 42 between both campaigns.
Moinelo earned his place as starter after seven years of being a middle reliever. Now as opener in the last two campaigns, he has registered a record of 11-5 and 12-3.
Last year’s numbers allowed him to win the Golden Glove, which made him the first Latino pitcher to earn the ERA title during the regular tournament in the second best league in the world.
That campaign had 25 starters, and he pitched 163 innings. From the mound, he struck out 155 opponents, allowed only 34 runs and allowed 47 bases per ball, for 68.8% of wins.
That campaign had 25 starters, and he pitched 163 innings. From the mound, he struck out 155 opponents
Moinelo, one of the strong cards of the Cuba team, has found in Japan an option to have important income — he is the highest paid of the whole league, together with the Mexican Roberto Osuna, with $26.4 million for four seasons — and to compete at a high level. Other competitions in Asia have also received Cuban players, who have been highlighted recently, such as Guillermo Heredia, who plays in the South Korean league with SSG Landers.
In three seasons, the pitcher from Matanzas has established himself as the player with the best average, .342, among the batters, with at least a thousand at-bats in the last three seasons in that league. With a past in the major leagues with the Atlanta Braves, the outfielder has managed to sign a $1.6 million contract, with a $200,000 bonus.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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