Cuban Santos to play in Japan with Chiba Lotte Marines. (Photo: Roberto Morejón)

Cuban Roel Santos was hired by the Chiba Lotte Marines, club of the Japanese Professional Baseball League (NPB).

After signing the contract, the outfielder stated: “My goal is to go out and have fun and try to put Cuban flag very high in that country,” said the website of JIT sports publication.
The player from Granma province will initially play in the NPB second level.

Now expectations are higher, since I´ll be playing at a higher level, and it is necessary to face that challenge physically and mentally well prepared, noted the leadoff hitter of Cuban team that attended the World Baseball Classic.

According to JIT, Santos will be the 6th Cuban player enrolled this season in the NPB, as LHP Livan Moinelo and switch-hitter Oscar Colas recently signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, franchise which hired OF Alfredo Despaigne this year after three seasons in the Marines.

To these four ballplayers we must add RHP Raidel Martinez and OF Leonardo Urgelles who now play for the Chunichi Dragons.