The KBO League is also $1 million, but Hanshin's bet on foreign hitters who don't play in the Major League, have an annual salary of $300,000, and eat and run
Dec 28, 2024
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He played 133 games in his first year, batting .24-114 with nine home runs and 56 RBIs. Even if it is a 'go-taser' league where foreign hitters are difficult to succeed, it is a performance that does not meet expectations considering annual salary. Strong shoulders stood out, but the renewal of the contract was unclear in the regular season performance.
It was different in the Japan Series. He hit his team's first series home run against the Orix Buffaloes and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 6. In Game 7, he hit a three-run home run against left-hander Hiroya Miyagi. It is a home run that led Hanshin to win the Japan Series for the first time in 38 years. Noisy re-signed for an annual salary of $1.1 million, which was cut by $200,000.
He succeeded in renewing his contract, but Japan Dream did not continue. Hanshin released Noji as a free agent on October 24. He played in 49 games this season and had a batting average of only 231-1, one home run and eight RBIs. After the first-team registration was canceled in May, he failed to make it to the first team. This year, Hanshin received little help from foreigners.
Due to the high level of Japanese professional baseball pitchers, it is difficult to succeed even if the major league career is quite spectacular. In the past, sophisticated ball control and breaking balls such as fork balls were considered strengths, but the ball speed improved. Many foreign hitters who have recently performed well in Japan have been adapting in Japan for many years. In the Major League, the Japanese professional baseball is evaluated as Triple-A, which is close to the Major League.
Hanshin announced on the 27th that it has recruited Ramon Hernandez (28), an infielder from the Dominican Republic. 1 m93-102 kg, utuuta. It is a resource that can be used as an outfielder at first and third bases.
The profile stands out. He has no major league experience. He started with a minor league team under the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014 and played mostly in single A and double A. He hit .236-11 homers and 44 RBIs in 98 games for the Arizona Double-A team in 2019.
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Hernandez played in the Mexican league this year. He played in 82 games and posted a batting average of 313-22 homers and 71 RBIs. A Hanshin club official noted the long-run power" he said. Hernández said "I thank Hanshin Club for believing in my ability and giving me the opportunity to play."
There is one more thing that stands out. The annual salary is $300,000 (about 440 million won). It is a low annual salary that cannot be found in the KBO League. These days, most foreign hitters in the KBO League sign contracts with a full salary cap of $1 million (about 1.48 billion won) in the first year. Even in Japan, where there is no restriction on the possession of foreign players, the amount is unusually low for a formal contract player other than a foster player.
Last year's winning team Hanshin finished second in the Central League after the Yomiuri Giants this season. It's less glamorous, but the power is solid. The main player is holding on to almost all positions at home and abroad. Yusuke Oyama, the center hitter who remained as an FA at first base, and Sato, who hit 84 home runs for four seasons at third base,
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Only one spot in the outfield is in the competition. Koji Chikamoto, the team's highest-paid player, is a center fielder, and Shota Morishita, the fourth batter of the Japanese Premier 12 national team, is a right fielder. Hernandez competes with Japanese players for the left field position. A club official said "The competition will create tension. It's a competition that Fujikawa wants."
In the past, Hanshin invested in foreign hitters who have experienced the KBO League. Willin Rosario from Hanwha Eagles in 2018 and Mel Rojas Jr. from KT Wiz in 2021-2022 played for Hanshin. I received special treatment. Rosario received an annual salary of 3.5 million dollars (about 5.17 billion won). His career in the Major League, which exceeded 20 home runs in one season, must have played a role. Rojas, a former KBO League MVP, signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract (about 8.12 billion won).
Both players packed up with disastrous performances. He was treated like a nuisance because he couldn't adapt to Japanese baseball and left. The previous league performance showed that it was only a reference.
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Reporter Min Chang-ki huelva@sportschosun.com
huelva@sportschosun.com
