NPB's multiple teams turned down and chose Korea. An annual salary of 1.4 billion → 300 million, what's the reason

Nov 17, 2025

사진=SSG 랜더스

[Kagoshima (Japan) = Reporter Na Yuri of Sports Chosun] Why did we come to the KBO League with this career. SSG Landers have hired a Japanese 'big' Asian quarter player.

SSG officially announced on the 16th that it will recruit Japanese right-hander Shota Takeda as an Asian quarter player. The annual salary is $200,000. Takeda is a rookie who was the first overall NPB draft pick and also played for the Japanese national team along with Shohei Ohtani. He is a "one-club man" who only played in the Softbank Hawks, and is a pitcher with more than 10 wins for two consecutive years in the 2015-2016 season and 66 wins in the NPB. Expectations were so high from the time he joined the team that he was called the "second Darvish", and he actually continued his long career.

However, due to injuries in recent years, he has not been able to spend the full-time season in normal condition. On April 9 last year, he underwent Tommy John Surgery and elbow joint reconstruction, and returned to practice in early June this year, but was not called up to the first team and Softbank announced the release last month.

Although he is a player released by Softbank, it is somewhat surprising that a pitcher with about Takeda's career will come to Korea. He even received 150 million yen in annual salary from Softbank this year, which is an FA contract. It amounts to 1.4 billion won in Korean money. The annual salary at SSG next year is about 300 million won, which is a huge difference. Even Takeda received offers from several NPB teams after his release from SoftBank. These teams saw Takeda as still competitive, with five to six starters. Nevertheless, he chose SSG, which he himself contacted first after being released. He is determined to challenge himself on the Korean stage.

사진=SSG 랜더스

Takeda's trip to Korea is not an impromptu choice. Takeda visited Incheon in person after making his contract decision and toured the facilities at SSG Landers Field. I looked directly at exercise facilities and training environments. In addition, he took a train and took a taxi to the SSG closing camp in Kagoshima, Japan, and greeted SSG officials, including director Lee Sung-yong. It's not just coming as a foreign pitcher, but to really be a part of the team, we've already started preparing for next year by meeting and looking at all the environments, conditions, and members in person.

Director Lee Soo-yong said, "We met in person in Kagoshima. The impression was very good. I'm looking at Miyazaki as the location of the second spring camp next year, and Takeda's hometown is Miyazaki. Takeda donated the sports facility to his hometown of Miyazaki, and he said, 'If you need it, I'll make it available to SSG players at any time.'" Coach Lee has Takeda in mind as a candidate for next year's selection. It is highly likely that two foreign pitchers, Takeda, Kim Kwang-hyun and Kim Gun-woo, will fill the rotation first and receive the opportunity.

Coach Lee said, `Takeda has already planned to join the Florida camp after working out first on the winter U.S. trail.' `Tommy John surgery was performed, but the second year after surgery is usually better. He expressed his expectation, saying, "I thought he was a player who could use the ABS zone well because he kept improving and controlling his ball so well.' Takeda threw a ball up to 149 kilometers in this year's rehabilitation game, and is expected to throw more than 150 kilometers at the beginning of next season, when his condition improves further.

다케다 쇼타. Photo =Softbank Hawks.

He is a player who will be an example not only for his simple career but also for the team. Takeda plans to start her life in Korea with her family and cats. It is said that his wife, who likes Korea, also has high expectations for Korean life. "Takeda was a really great player in Japan as well," said SSG coach Steve Hong Strens, who has been linked with Takeda since Japan. He is perfect in both self-management and exercise, and he takes good care of his juniors, so there are so many juniors who follow him within the NPB. He is respected by his juniors. The expression "a really crazy player in baseball" is most accurate. During his 14 years as an NPB player, he kept writing down 14 years' worth of athletic journals. And to have an ultrasound machine at home to check the condition of his arm himself, I think his attitude toward baseball as well as baseball will be a great model for our players" he said.

Not only did Takeda reject the offers of several NPB teams, but there were also other teams aiming for him in the KBO League. However, SSG, which was the first to move, won hearts. Takeda has already replaced his SNS profile picture with one wearing an SSG uniform and introduced himself as 'SSG Landers #23 Pitcher'. He also thanked his former team, Softbank, in Korean, and made the decision to play in the KBO League SSG with a new challenge. I always had a strong desire to jump into an environment where I could grow and evolve once again. With everything I learned from the Hawks in my heart, I will try to contribute to the team's victory by taking the mound with all my might in Korea."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.