Softbank Hawks pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa renewed his contract at the team office at Mizuho PayPay Dome on the 24th, signing for an annual salary of 250 million yen, maintaining his current salary, plus performance-based pay. In his first year with the team, he tied his career high with 12 wins. "It wasn't an easy season with a lot of things happening, but I really received support from everyone inside The Hawks. I think I was able to improve my game, and I'd like to thank everyone who was involved," he reflected.
He left Nippon-Ham for the American league, and returned to Japanese baseball after just one year. His decision to choose Softbank Hawks over his former Nippon-Ham sparked controversy, but he said, "I've had a lot of different experiences this year, and I think I've become mentally stronger. I was very conscious of not being distracted by the voices around me, but focusing on what I had to do and producing results. It's been a year since that day (Softbank Hawks joining press conference), and I think I've grown as a person. It's been a very intense year of my life."
With each pitching appearance, the number of fans cheering him on with his merchandise increased, and he expressed his gratitude, saying, "It made me want to do my best even more." He also said that the good thing about Softbank Hawks is "there are a lot of staff members. They often took a lot of time to watch me, and I was really grateful."
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