"Este premio me motiva para Grandes Ligas": Rafa Martin
Saltillo, Coah.- (www.saraperos.com.mx) Jueves 11 de Diciembre de 2014. A Rafael Martin, cerrador mexicano en triple A con Washington, le motiva el nombramiento de Mejor Relevista del Año, para aspirar a las Grandes Ligas en el 2015 en que recibirá de nueva cuenta invitación al campo de entrenamiento de las mayores.
"Esta noticia motiva bastante, es un premio que me dan por el rendimiento de mi trabajo, el haberme recuperado al cien por ciento y poder competir. Lo más importante es poder llegar a Grandes Ligas con Washington o si otro equipo se interesa vía regla 5 o porque no pesar en una opción para Japón, estoy listo para asumir un reto así", declaró Rafael Martin, pitcher derecho jalisciense, vía telefónica desde Hermosillo, donde ocupa el rol de cerrador con Naranjeros en la Liga Mexicana del Pacífico.
Rafael Martin Romero acaba de tener su mejor campaña en las granjas de los Nacionales de Washington, pues se consolidó en triple A con los Jefes de Syracuse como su cerrador, su récord de 1-1, un extraordinario 0.80 de efectividad en 25 partidos, 10 salvamentos, 33.2 innings lanzados, 20 hits, apenas 4 carreras, 3 de ellas limpias, 7 bases a cambio de 42 ponches recetados, coronando este gran torneo con la Corona de la Liga Internacional de la División Norte.
La campaña 2014, la comenzó en clase A avanzada con Potomac, tras superar una lesión del codo, con par de juegos, 4.2 entradas sin hit ni carrera y 4 ponches, por lo que de inmediato lo subieron a doble A con Harrisburg donde también dejó buenos números con récord de 2-1, 2.70 de efectividad, en 11 relevos, 1 rescate, 20 capítulos, 15 hits, apenas 7 carreras, 5 bases a cambio de 20 chocolates.
El derecho de Tepatitlán, Jalisco, pertenece a Washington desde 2010, surgido de la organización de los Saraperos de Saltillo, donde debutó como profesional en 2007, sólo estuvo par de torneos con la novena saltillense, pues en 2008 ganó 6 y perdió apenas 2, 4.19 de efectividad, un rescate, 35 juegos, 53.2 entradas, 27 carreras y 38 abanicados, lo que le valió para abrirse camino hacia Estados Unidos, donde hoy está en la antesala del mejor beisbol del mundo.
"Quiero aprovechar para saludar a toda la gente de Saltillo, esa ciudad me encantó, ahí fue donde empecé y siempre estarán en mi recuerdo y mi memoria, voy a seguir trabajando para poner en alto a los Saraperos, poder sumar un pelotero mexicano más en Grandes Ligas".
"Es un orgullo, algo que representa el trabajo que he hecho para superar las lesiones, tu sabes que esta es una carrera con bastante sacrificio, la oportunidad de salir de Saltillo, un proceso largo, especialmente este año después de la temporada que tuve, me quedé con ganas de subir en septiembre a Grandes Ligas, no se dio, puse todo de mi parte", afirmó.
"Siempre es un sacrificio dejar la familia lejos, a los amigos, pero estamos con algo bonito que nos gusta hacer, que es jugar al beisbol. Gracias a Dios estamos saludables este año, pues ahí están los números, la temporada que tuvimos"
Dice que la clave de su éxito fue la confianza en sus lanzamientos, tirar mucho strike, pues cuando uno un pitcher se pone abajo en los conteos, tiene que entrar a home, además lo importante de poder combinar mi repertorio, para que los rivales vayan por los pitcheos que queremos.
"Mi mejor pitcheo siempre ha sido la recta, tienen mucha vida, muchas veces se corta, se sinkea, mi slider también me ha funcionado bastante bien, este año lo tiré mucho a los zurdos y medio buenos resultados, porque es rápido y corto, los bateadores hicieron muchos swings malos y eso me ayudó para sacar de balance a los rivales", platicó.
"Se acabó la temporada y no me dijeron nada, eso fue lo triste, hice la maleta, me fui y nadie me dijo nada, me agüité y me puse triste por eso, no me dieron ninguna razón del porque no me subieron. Como te digo hay que mantener la cabeza en alto y echar para adelante a ver lo que viene, quizá alguna oportunidad de que me agarre en regla 5 y que pueda subir con otro equipo".
"Por eso esta noticia motiva bastante, los coaches de triple A me dijeron que estaba para poder subir en septiembre, nada más que el equipo estaba duro, en una etapa de play off, tenían que ganar muchos juegos, si me iban a subir realmente no iba a tener mucha chanza, afortunadamente ningún pitcher se lesionó, todo el bullpen de Washington estuvo muy bien. No se dio la oportunidad, hay que tener un poco de paciencia y suerte, estar en el lugar oportuno", argumentó.
En este cierre de año, Rafael Martín tiene claras sus expectativas, inclusive la carta de deseos en Navidad, "que me llegue la oportunidad de jugar en Grandes Ligas, con el favor de Dios y mi boda, el matrimonio es algo muy bonito, una experiencia que siempre soñé, que quiero pasar con mi novia Alejandra Castellanos, vivir estos dos momentos sería sensacional en 2015", reflexionó.
"Mi agente está en los Winter Meeting en San Diego, este jueves es el draft de regla 5, con la esperanza de que haya alguna oportunidad. Estamos analizamos las posibilidades del mercado, poder llegar a las Mayores y porque no pensar en alguna oportunidad para ir para Japón; si Dios quiere estoy listo para echarle ganas, el último brinquito para cumplir mi sueño, ojalá se logre esa meta de llegar a Grandes Ligas", añadió.
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