An annual salary of 28 million won, a foreign player? A 25-year-old outfielder who dreams of Japan as a nurturing player

Jan 08, 2025

Outfielder Consuegra, who Hanshin announced his recruitment on the 7th. He signed as a nurturing player for an annual salary of 3 million yen. Photo Source = Hanshin Tigers SNS

The Yomiuri Giants acquired Cuban right-hander Raidel Martinez (29) in December. He welcomed Martinez with a treatment worthy of the best closing pitcher in Japanese professional baseball. Although the exact amount is unknown because the club has not disclosed it, Japanese media estimated that it is $8 million and an annual salary of 1.2 billion yen (about 11.06 billion won). It quadrupled from last year's annual salary of 300 million yen. This is the highest amount ever in Japanese professional baseball history. Of course, it's a multi-year contract of more than two years.

Martinez, who joined the Chunichi Dragons in 2018, pitched in a total of 303 games and posted 166 saves and 42 holds (14-18, 1.71 ERA). Last year, he recorded 43 saves and seven holds (2-3 with a 1.09 ERA) in the last-place Chunichi. He returned to No. 1 save in the Central League for the first time in two years.

Softbank Hawks signed a four-year-to-four billion yen extension contract with left-hander Livan Moello (30) early last year. It is an annual contract of 1 billion yen (about 9.22 billion won) starting this year. I moved before the end of the existing contract and caught it.

He started as a nurturing player in 2017. Last year, he moved from the bullpen to the starting pitcher and succeeded. 11-5 - 1.88 ERA. In his first year as a starter, he ranked No. 1 in the Pacific League ERA. Monello and Martinez represented Cuba last year in the 'Premier 12'. Whenever a major international competition takes place, the two players represent Cuba.

There is a player who shot the best ahead of Martinez and Monello. This is Roberto Osuna (30), a Mexican closer for Softbank. After passing through Chiba Lotte Marines, he moved to Softbank in 2023 and hit the jackpot. It signed a four-year contract of 4 billion yen last year. Osuna is a former save king of the American League in the U.S. Major League Baseball. He made 38 saves in 2019 for the Houston Astros.

An annual salary of 28 million won, a foreign player? A 25-year-old outfielder who dreams of Japan as a nurturing player

Fujikawa, who became the Hanshin head coach five years after retirement. Hanshin won the Japan Series in 2023 and finished second in the Central League last year. Photo Source = Hanshin Tigers SNS

These three players are successful cases of Japan's professional baseball by adapting to the soil of Japanese baseball. It has risen to the top position through infinite competition without restrictions on foreign players. A certain performance in a professional program leads to a certain reward. Since he is a foreign player called 'Yongbyeong', he has to prove his value with his skills.

Hanshin Tigers announced on the 7th that it will recruit foreign players. Stanley Consuegra, outfielder of the Dominican Republic. Number 134 was assigned.

He is a young player born in 2000 who has no major league experience. Hanshin held a tryout in the Dominican Republic last December. The player that stood out at that time was Consuegra.

He weighs between 90 and 93 kilograms. Hanshin announced that he has good swing speed and long hit power. Consuegra is the fourth player selected in Hanshin's three tryouts. He is the first outfielder.

In 2017, he started his career in the minor leagues under the New York Mets. Last year, he was promoted to Double A under the Mets, but he was blocked there. He showed a good batting performance in Single A, but he didn't show an impressive performance in Double A. Consuegra hit 23 home runs in the 2023 Single A. He has 52 home runs in the minor leagues.

Outfielder Noji, who played a great role in the Orix and Japan series in 2023. He failed to renew his contract last year because he was extremely sluggish. Photo Source = Hanshin Tigers SNS

There is something that stands out. This year's annual salary is 3 million yen (about 28 million won). It's about one-hundredth of Martinez's annual salary. Even if you are not a formal player but a nurturing player, it is a small amount for a foreign player who has to live in a foreign country.

Of course, Consuegra took this and chose the path of challenge. On the other side, Hanshin saw the potential and gave him a chance.

Hanshin is the winner of the 2023 Central League and Japan Series. Last season, he finished second in the league after Yomiuri. The pitching power was solid, but the presence of foreign batters was insignificant. Japanese batters were the main players and had no choice but to lead the attack. He also had a strong thirst for long balls.

Through the club, Konsuegra said, `I want to learn Japanese baseball culture and play style and contribute to the success of the team.'

This season, Hanshin will play nine foreign players. It has the largest number of foreign players in the club's history. Hanshin previously signed an annual salary of $300,000 (about 440 million won) with Ramon Hernandez (28), a native of the Dominican Republic. Four of the nine players, including Consuegra, are nurturing players. In 2020-2022, we had eight players for three consecutive years, all of which were official contracts. This year, we're going on a different note.

Hanshin recruited Rojas, a former KBO League MVP, but did not produce the expected results. Rojas, who was pushed back from the starting lineup, mainly played as a pinch hitter. Sports Chosun DB

Hanshin has failed to recruit batters with career in the KBO League and Major League Baseball. The performance and name value posted by other leagues did not lead to success.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.