After quitting coke and eating dinner, 20 home run hitters for four consecutive years fighting 150g and 100kg weight, he was tempted after winning the championship, but he held it in and lost weight

Dec 31, 2024

Maki, who hit a three-run home run in Game 5 of the Softbank and Japan Series. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

Yokhama's main gun Maki has 20 home runs for four consecutive years since his 2021 debut season. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

This year, Yokohama lifted the Japan Series trophy for the first time in 26 years. Softbank won four consecutive games after losing two games in a row. Photo capture = Japan Baseball Organization website

Yokohama BayStars second baseman Shugo Maki (26) made history in Japanese professional baseball last winter. He renewed his contract for an annual salary of 230 million yen (about 2.16 billion won) ahead of his fourth professional season. He set a new salary record in his fourth year as a member of the Nippon-Ham Fighters, surpassing Darvish Yu (San Diego Padres, 38) and Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers, 30). Markey posted '164 hits - 29 home runs - 103 RBIs' in 2023. He ranked first in hits and RBIs in the Central League and third in homers. He was the only player in both leagues to have 'triple-digit RBIs'.

After graduating from Chuo University, he joined the 2nd nomination of a rookie in 2021. He has been on a roll since his debut season. Rookie infielder started the opening game against the Yomiuri Giants as '3-1st baseman'. He played 137 games and had a batting average of 314-153 hits, 22 home runs, and 71 RBIs. In the same year, he was a rookie in Yokohama for the fourth time in 61 years. He became the first rookie player since Kazuhiro Kiyohara to hit a batting average of 30-20 home runs.

It appeared like a supernova, and the annual salary rose vertically every year. Starting from 13 million yen (about 120 million won), it rose to 70 million yen (about 660 million won), 120 million yen (about 1.13 billion won), and 230 million yen.

He became the best in Japan beyond his team. Maki played as the main hitter for the 2023 WBC (World Baseball Classic), the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC), and the 2024 Premier 12 Japanese national team. He is the only player who has participated in all three competitions.

Maki, who started personal training, first set a goal of double-digit weight. '30-30 home runs-100 RBIs-scoring batting average of .35' to achieve the goal in 2025. He `is controlling to be careless in the offseason.'

1m78-97 kg. Height and weight shown in the official profile. Markey said "It really didn't exceed 100kg during the season." In other words, the weight exceeded 100kg in the offseason. He said "I've stopped drinking sweet drinks such as cola".

Maki was the only player in both leagues to have triple-digit RBIs last year, in his third year as a member. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

Weight management. If you are a professional player, you are destined to be a professional player. The weight gain increases the burden on the knee and waist. The risk of injury increases. Of course, it's less quick-witted. Even so, you can't lose weight recklessly. As a center hitter and a home run hitter, you have to keep your power.

He has been managing his weight while listening to the advice of senior infielder Maeda Yamato (37). In the offseason every year, Yamato (registered) conducted self-training together in his hometown of Kagoshima. But Yamato left the team for the last time this year. This winter, he will lead the self-training of Kagoshima.

Maki is said to have limited his dinner to 150g of rice when his senior Yamato was present. A bowl of rice is 150-200 grams. As my senior advised, I ate a meal that ate a lot of vegetables.

This year, Yokohama lifted the Japan Series trophy for the first time in 26 years. He started the fall baseball season as the third-ranked player in the Central League and directed the drama. SoftBank Hawks and

Maki played for Japan in the 2023 WBC, Asian Professional Baseball Championship, and 2024 Premier 12. Photo capture = Japanese baseball team homepage

Yokohama started the fall baseball as the third-place team in the Central League and advanced to the Japan Series by beating Hanshin and Yomiuri, the third-place team. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

He gave up the first and second games in the Japan Series and won four consecutive games like a lie. There were many temptations to threaten the diet every day after winning the championship. There would have been a series of meals and drinks. Nevertheless, he clenched his teeth. The amount of food was strictly observed, he said.

He was the captain in his fourth year of joining the team. In 2021-2023, he made seven steals in three years, with 11 in the 2024 season. It is a difference from the previous one.

There was also a regret. From his first season, he was strong in scoring chances. For the third consecutive year, he has exceeded his batting average of .300. This year, the scoring batting average fell to 248.

He has a batting average of 294-152 hits, 23 home runs, and 74 RBIs. This is the result of a powerful 'go-taser'. He played a full role as the center hitter. But there were fewer hits, home runs and RBIs than last year.

The salary, which was headed to the right, also had a break. The contract was renewed at 250 million yen (about 2.345 billion won), up 20 million yen. He said in a media interview shortly after renewing his contract that `

Maki received an annual salary of 230 million yen, the highest in his fourth year in Japanese professional baseball this season. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS

"I'll do it. I've recorded 20 for four years in a row, and I need to grow more."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.