As the baseball season concluded, the sports newspapers buzzed with updates on contract renewals. Players who had stellar performances anticipated significant raises, while those who struggled aimed to minimize any salary cuts. This period was also a critical time for players to communicate their thoughts and aspirations to the team's administrative staff.
Like every professional baseball player, I had been contemplating what to discuss with the team regarding my future. The day of my contract renewal finally arrived, and to my surprise, the meeting lasted a mere five minutes. Among the Shizuoka Oceans players, I was the first to have my contract renewed.
Dressed in my best, albeit baggy, suit—purchased by my mother when I graduated high school—I waited on the first-floor sofa as instructed. The suit was a couple of sizes too large, a testament to my ongoing growth.
The manager called my name, and I knocked before entering the reception room. Inside, a table separated me from two men whose faces I recognized but whose names I didn't know. One, in his fifties, wore an expensive-looking suit and had a strong, confident demeanor. The other, in his late thirties or early forties, was short, plump, and pale-faced, dressed in a gray suit.
"Please have a seat," the man with the strong look instructed. I complied and took my seat.
"Here's the standard contract. Please stamp here and here," the plump man said, handing me the documents. I did as instructed, and he continued, "Well done. Do your best to get promoted to the first team next year. Now, call the next person."
I was taken aback—there was no mention of my new salary. Confused, I looked at the document and saw an amount of 4.5 million yen. It was a modest increase of 100,000 yen from my previous salary of 4.4 million yen. At this rate, it would take decades to reach a significant salary milestone.
As I left the room, I saw Mitamura, who was also in an unfamiliar suit, waiting for his turn. Mitamura had been recovering from surgery all season and had just started pitching again.
"Mim, it's your turn now," I said, noting his high seat height due to his tall frame. He stood up and entered the room without knocking, leaving me to ponder my situation.
The contract renewals for my fellow teammates were published in the newspaper. Taniguchi's salary remained the same at 8.4 million yen, while Takeshita received a raise to 12.6 million yen for his time on the first team. Mitamura's salary was reduced to 5.6 million yen due to his injury, and Haratani, the fifth draft pick, saw a slight decrease to 8.2 million yen. Iijima faced a significant cut to 12 million yen, and Sugizawa, the first-round pick, received a substantial raise to 27 million yen despite narrowly missing the Rookie of the Year award.
Sugizawa's contract renewal press conference was broadcast on television, a reminder of the spotlight that comes with success.
As November ended, the team hosted a fan appreciation day and a year-end party. I have no memory of the fan appreciation day, likely because I was unwell and resting in the dorm. The year-end party, held at a luxurious hot spring inn, was a stark contrast to the modest accommodations I was used to.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by kimono-clad women and about 30 media members. After refreshing ourselves in the hot springs, we gathered in the party venue, where a lavish meal awaited. Former manager Tanaka Daijiro and new manager Kimitsu addressed us before player association president Tomatsu proposed a toast.
The party featured various performances by the younger players, reflecting the typical rowdiness of sports club drinking parties. Despite the vulgarity, I found some enjoyment in the festivities.
Reflecting on my first season, it felt both long and short, filled with numerous experiences. While I'm hesitant to claim I'll excel on the first team next season, I'm determined to secure a regular spot on the second team and continue striving for improvement.
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