Taipei: Taiwanese pitcher Hsu Jo-hsi has officially joined the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the 2025 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) champions, on a three-year contract. Hawks General Manager Sugahiko Mikasa announced the deal at a press conference in Taipei, stating it was a three-year agreement reached via the posting system, though he declined to disclose the specific financial details.
According to Focus Taiwan, an inside source revealed that under the contract, the 25-year-old right-hander could earn a total of up to US$15 million per year. Hsu will receive a basic pay of US$10 million, which includes a US$1 million signing bonus and a minimum annual salary of US$3 million. Additionally, he may be eligible for US$5 million in performance-based bonuses. The Hawks will also pay a US$2 million posting fee to the Wei Chuan Dragons, Hsu’s former team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).
This marks the second consecutive year that a Taiwanese pitcher has transitioned directly from the CPBL to the NPB. Hsu, renowned for his powerful pitching, attracted attention by clocking 153 km/h as a high school pitcher and was selected by the Dragons as the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft. He made a remarkable professional debut in March 2021, striking out 11 batters in just 3 2/3 innings. In the 2025 season, he pitched 114 innings in 19 starts, striking out 120 batters with a 2.05 ERA, the lowest among all local players.
Hsu declared international free agency in late October, drawing interest from several teams in both the NPB and Major League Baseball (MLB). On Monday, the Dragons confirmed that Hsu had chosen to join the Fukuoka-based league. Hsu will don jersey No. 18, a number he says inspires him as it is traditionally reserved for “aces” in Japanese baseball culture.
During Friday’s press conference, Hsu expressed his admiration for the Hawks’ facilities, noting their comprehensive resources and immediate support for various training needs. Hawks officials described Hsu’s addition to the team as a “very good Christmas gift” and expressed confidence that their system could help him reach his full potential.
Hawks Chief Baseball Officer Kenji Johjima emphasized that Hsu will be given ample time to acclimate to his new environment in his first season and will not be pressured into heavy usage. Despite having faced injuries throughout his career, Hsu stated his determination to compete for a spot in the starting rotation as soon as possible.
