Highest Single-Season MLB Salaries for Asian Players Since 2011

A player's 'highest single-season salary' refers to the most money they earned in one MLB season. It reflects the peak value placed on the player by their team based on performance, experience, and marketability.

Since 2011, Asian players in Major League Baseball (MLB) have increasingly emerged as not only high-performing athletes but also high-value contracts. The chart ranks the top salaries these players have earned in a single season, showing the economic impact and recognition of Asian talent in the league.

Shohei Ohtani's historic $70 million salary in 2024 with the Los Angeles Dodgers stands as the highest in the history of Asian players in MLB. His unique role as a two-way player, excelling in both pitching and hitting, has driven his value beyond conventional standards, making him a once-in-a-generation talent in global baseball. Ohtani’s massive contract reflects not only his on-field performance but also his unparalleled marketability.

Following Ohtani are veteran Japanese pitchers like Yu Darvish, who earned $25 million in 2018 with the Chicago Cubs, and Masahiro Tanaka, who secured $23 million in 2020 with the New York Yankees. Their sustained excellence on the mound earned them long-term, high-value contracts with major franchises.

Among Korean players, Shin-Soo Choo leads with a $21 million salary in 2019, showing the value of position players from Korea in the MLB. Ryu Hyun-jin, a top-tier pitcher, earned $20 million with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020, continuing the strong presence of Korean pitching in the league. More recently, Ha-Seong Kim earned $13 million in 2025, highlighting the increasing recognition of Korean infielders.

Taiwan’s contribution is marked by Chen Wei-Yin’s $20 million salary in 2019 with the Miami Marlins, making him the highest-paid Taiwanese MLB player in history. This underscores the diverse range of talent from across Asia making a mark in MLB.

The list also includes rising stars like Seiya Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida, both earning $18–20 million, signaling a new generation of Japanese hitters being embraced by MLB teams with lucrative contracts. The inclusion of Jung Hoo Lee, set to earn $16 million in 2025, indicates the growing pipeline from the KBO to MLB.

This data is not a ranking of overall career earnings or total performance, but a snapshot of peak market value in a single season. It provides insight into how MLB organizations value talent from Asia and how those players have negotiated top-dollar deals at the peak of their careers. As more players from the region transition to MLB, these figures are likely to continue climbing in the coming years.