The Cuban pitcher Liván Moinelo was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Japanese Professional Baseball League (NPB) 2025, following an extraordinary season that positioned him among the most dominant pitchers in the league.
According to what was presented on Facebook by journalist Francys Romero, the left-handed pitcher, aged 29, had an almost perfect season: 12 wins, 3 losses, an impressive 1.46 earned run average (ERA), and 172 strikeouts in 167.0 innings, numbers that solidified him as the undeniable star of his team and a nightmare for opposing batters.
A historic achievement for Cuban and Latin American baseball
With this recognition, Romero pointed out, Moinelo becomes the fourth Latin American to win an MVP in the history of the NPB, and the first in 16 years, since Venezuelan Alex Ramírez achieved it in 2009.
The other three Latinos who previously achieved this distinction were also Venezuelans, which makes the accomplishment of the Cuban even more significant.
The combination of command, consistency, and maturity on the mound made Moinelo’s 2025 season one of the best ever recorded by a Latin pitcher in Japan.
It is also worth noting that his transition from reliever to starter has been spectacular, which reinforces Cuba’s aspirations for future international events, such as the World Classic.
Indeed, given his level of skill, several specialists and fans are eager to see the player born in Pinar del Río in the Major Leagues, where the best players in the world compete, something that would only happen if he severs his ties with the Cuban governing body of the sport.