Spanish
SANTO DOMINGO.- Puerto Rican catcher Martín Maldonado will be a reinforcement for the Leones del Escogido for the second consecutive season, according to the general manager of the national and Caribbean champions, Carlos Peña.
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"The presence of Martín immediately elevates the level of our team. His experience behind the plate, proven leadership, and knowledge of the game are invaluable. Having a catcher of his caliber is a luxury that strengthens us in every aspect," Peña declared. With Maldonado behind the home plate in the 2024-25 tournament, the Leones had a record of 8-2. The effectiveness of the scarlet pitchers was 3.00, the third best among the catchers who were in play in at least 90 innings of the last tournament. In addition, he caught 30.8 percent of runners who tried to steal on him. The league average was 22.4 percent. During the summer, Maldonado extended his total of campaigns in the Major Leagues to 15 by playing with the San Diego Padres. In 64 games, he hit 4 home runs, drove in 12 runs, scored 11 and batted .204. In the Majors, the Naguabo native has combined 119 home runs, 384 RBIs, 369 runs scored, 138 doubles, and an OPS of .620 in 1,230 games. In addition to San Diego, he has played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and the Houston Astros, a team he helped win the 2022 World Series. Defensively at the highest level, his percentage of runners caught stealing is 28.4. In 2017, he was a Gold Glove winner wearing the Angels uniform. Maldonado joins infielders Jonathan Araúz and César Prieto, right-handed pitchers Grant Gavin, Darío Agrazal, Norge Ruiz, José Espada and Indigo Díaz, and left-handers Jonathan Bermúdez and Darién Núñez, within the list of reinforcements of the 17-time national champions for the season that begins this Wednesday, October 15th.
