Yomiuri Giants left-handed reliever Tetsuya Yamaguchi re-signed Wednesday with the 2009 Japan Series champions for a salary of ¥100 million — a pay raise of ¥55 million from this past season.
Yamaguchi became the first to reach ¥100 million among the players who started their careers under the so-called player development system.
He pitched in a team-high 73 games, going 9-1 with four saves and a 1.27 ERA in 2009.
"I can't believe it. I didn't expect to come this far," said the 2008 Central League Rookie of the Year. "I'd like to keep aiming high."
Yamaguchi was not on the 70-man roster when he joined the Giants in 2006 on a ¥2.4 million deal after spending three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks' rookie league affiliate.