On the 23rd, Softbank Hawks outfielder Ukyo Shuto (29) signed an extraordinary five-year contract worth 2 billion yen plus performance-based pay (with variable pay from the fourth year onwards). Divided by year, his annual salary is 400 million yen, a significant increase from the 110 million yen he received in 2015. This is the highest salary ever for fielder produced through the development draft, surpassing the 300 million yen earned by The Giants' Kai. "I've always had the determination not to be satisfied with the status quo. I hope I can be a guidepost for the younger players (in development)," he said. The speedster, who has been selected to represent Japan in the WBC for two consecutive tournaments, has secured a dream contract that is 100 times the annual salary of 4 million yen he received when he joined the development team.
Last year, stolen base 35 bases, earning him stolen base title for the third consecutive year and his fourth time, and also winning the Golden The Hawks Award for the second consecutive year. If all went well, he would have been granted domestic free agent rights this year, but in reality, the contract is a buyout of those rights. He is not limited to the NPB, and his speed and defense are undoubtedly major league-level. After hearing about Mets player Senga, who also came up through the Hawks' development team, he once dreamed of going overseas. "I had often thought about going to America, but posting (is not permitted by the team), and when I thought about my age and various other things, including injuries...and my ability as well. I thought it would be difficult," he revealed.
In the 23 WBC, in the bottom of the 9th inning against Mexico in the semifinals, he was a pinch runner on first base with no outs and second base, and Murakami's single hit made him a walk-off home "God base running". However, he only had one at-bat in the tournament of struck out, and he intends to show his growth in batting, saying, "I want to fly forward this year." In independent training at Tanegashima since the beginning of the year, he has thoroughly trained his core and prepared for the long season starting with the samurai. "I want to aim to play all the games and all the inning (for the first time)." To become the world's best in two consecutive tournaments and win the league for the third time in a row, he is poised to run through without being spoiled by a multi-year contract. (Koichiro Shimao)
Higashihama, who exercised his domestic free agent rights and remained with Softbank Hawks, signed for 110 million yen, a 40 million yen reduction from his previous annual salary of 150 million yen. He considered transferring to another team in search of more playing time, but being ranked B, which requires personnel compensation, was a sticking point. "I'm excited right now. I want to see how I can make the most of the (approximately) 180 inning that Arihara will be leaving," said the 35-year-old, who has a total of 76 wins, as he was fired up to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.
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