Hiroto Takahashi, who had the best year of the year this year, sat on the cushion, although his impact at the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 was not significant. He set a new record for the Chunichi Dragons.먹튀검증

Multiple local media, including Japan's Chunichi Sports, reported on the 21st (Korea time) that Hiroto Takahashi's salary negotiations were renewed. The annual salary, which was 63 million yen (about 585 million won) this year, will increase by 57 million yen (about 530 million won) to 120 million yen (about 1.113 billion won) in the 2025 season.

Takahashi, who was drafted by the Chunichi Dragons in the first round of the Japanese professional baseball rookie draft in 2020, made his first first team appearance in 2022. At that time, Takahashi was impressive with 6 wins, 7 losses and an ERA of 2.47 in 19 appearances, and he enjoyed the joy of being on the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team just one season after his debut in the first team. Takahashi also pitched as a bullpen pitcher with a 3.00 ERA, helping Japan win the game.

Takahashi has advanced to the next level as much as he enjoyed the performance. He seemed to be out of touch with victory, but he pitched in 25 games and posted 7 wins, 11 losses and an ERA of 2.53. This year, he became the best pitcher in the Japanese pro baseball league.

Takahashi failed to join the opening entry due to the problem of pitch form correction, but in July, he played in 21 games, including four games without losing a point and winning four games. In particular, he was ranked first in Japan in the Pacific-Central League with a 1.38 ERA, tied for fourth in multiple wins in the Central League, third in strikeouts (130), fifth in quality starts (18 times), and third in WHIP (0.98 per inning).

Thanks to his stellar performance, Takahashi once again joined the national team through the Premier 12 team and started the match against Japan, which was not very powerful at the time, as he had seven hits (one homer) and eight strikeouts during four innings, allowing two runs (two earned runs). However, Takahashi, who took the mound again against the U.S. in the Super Round, pitched four innings of two hits, eight strikeouts, and no runs, drawing attention from scouts in the Major League. He had 16 strikeouts in two games, the most in this year's event.

Takahashi's salary has risen vertically as he has exploded his talent this year. Takahashi's annual salary this year was 63 million yen, but he was reborn as an "Ace" by ranking first in the ERA of the two major leagues, and he will receive 120 million yen in the 2025 season, an increase of 57 million yen. This also led to Chunichi's record.

According to multiple local media outlets including Japan's Chunichi Sports, it is the first time in the Chunichi Dragons' history that a 22-year-old player is paid more than 100 million yen a year. Indeed, the 22-year-old is sitting on a cushion of money.

2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 Japanese national team Hiroto Takahashi/Samurai Japan

Takahashi told reporters after the 2025 season salary negotiations, "The club evaluated me properly, so I think the salary negotiations were made at a reasonable amount," adding, "It was a real shame that I missed this year's opening game. I can't forget my resentment in the future. I still have a lot of work to do because I want to win all the titles next year. I've been saying that I will win all the games I throw, but I will make this happen."

When asked what he would do with his salary, Takahashi then said, "I think I will use it for repair because the washing machine is causing trouble at home," but he couldn't hide his smile around his mouth.