Rakuten Eagles pitcher Uchi Seiryu Uchi (23) attended contract negotiations at Rakuten Eagles Mobile's home stadium on the 23rd and signed a contract for an annual salary of 44 million yen, an increase of 13 million yen (all amounts are estimates). Regarding pitcher Kenta Maeda (37), who will join the team next season, Uchi said with a smile, "I used to go to see him play. I'd like to tell my younger self that I'd play baseball with Maeda." He also said, "He's played overseas at that age, so he has incredible mental strength and ability. I want to learn and absorb all that he has to offer." Regarding Maeda's request to players at his joining press conference to be contacted, even if it was just by direct mail, Uchi said, "I want to make it clear that I didn't send a direct mail (to him)," and intends to make a good impression on the first meeting.
"I alternated between starting and reliever nine times this season, and I think it was a year I'll never get to experience again." He has used this valuable experience as a springboard and set his goal for next season as the opening pitcher. He said he will be conscious of improving his speed in order to achieve that goal, and expressed his enthusiasm by saying, "I want to make my fastball one or two levels faster and also be conscious of my balance." In order to be used solely as a starter next season, he will aim to improve his level during the off-season.
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・ [Rakuten Eagles] Kenta Maeda, who has a total of 165 wins in Japan and the US, will wear number 18 at his joining press conference
・ [Softbank Hawks] Yugo Maeda is eager for first-round draft pick Rintaro Sasaki to join the team: "I want to play together"
・ [Hanshin Tigers] Takahashi Haruto signs for 30 million yen: "I'm not as good as my old self" "I pitch the kind of ball that excites the people around me"
・ Kenta Maeda is the most likely candidate to join Rakuten Eagles with favorable terms including multiple years and performance bonuses. The bidding war between The Giants and Yakult is in the final stages and a decision could be made this week.
・ [Rakuten Eagles] Manager Hajime Miki vows revenge on Softbank Hawks 's Yu Maeda, who gave up his first professional win, saying, "He's pitcher to look forward to in the future," but "I'll prepare well for him in the future."
