Highest MLB Salaries Among Asian Players: From Shohei Ohtani to Ha-Seong Kim

Highest salary: In professional sports, this refers to the largest annual compensation a player has received during their career. It typically reflects their market value, performance level, and the terms of their peak contract.

The salary records of Asian players in Major League Baseball reveal a growing presence and value in the league. Shohei Ohtani leads the list with a record-setting $70 million salary from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024—a figure nearly triple that of second-ranked Yu Darvish. Ohtani's unique role as both a pitcher and a hitter makes him a singular talent in MLB history.

Japanese players dominate the salary rankings, which highlights Japan's consistent ability to produce MLB-ready talent. Players like Yu Darvish ($25 million in 2018), Masahiro Tanaka ($23 million in 2020), and Yusei Kikuchi ($21.22 million in 2025) have all secured major contracts thanks to their performance and reputation in both NPB and MLB. In recent years, batters like Seiya Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida have joined the top earners, reflecting MLB teams’ growing trust in Japanese position players.

Korean players have also made significant financial strides. Shin-Soo Choo’s $21 million salary in 2019 is the highest among Korean athletes, followed closely by Ryu Hyun-jin’s $20 million in 2020. The next generation, including Ha-Seong Kim ($13 million in 2025) and Jung Hoo Lee ($16 million in 2025), shows that Korea continues to produce top-tier talent capable of competing on baseball’s biggest stage.

Taiwan’s representation comes from Chen Wei-Yin, who earned $20 million in 2019 with the Miami Marlins—the only Taiwanese player on the list, but one whose contract signifies recognition of Taiwan’s baseball competitiveness on an international level.

Interestingly, salaries have increased over time, with more recent contracts trending higher across positions and nationalities. This suggests that MLB teams are not only expanding their scouting efforts in Asia but also placing greater financial trust in these athletes. The inclusion of players in various positions—from starting pitchers to everyday batters—indicates a diversification of roles that Asian players are trusted to fill.

In summary, the data demonstrates the evolving perception and market value of Asian players in MLB. While Japan remains dominant, Korea and Taiwan are steadily closing the gap. With an increasing number of high-caliber players making the transition successfully, it's likely that the list of top earners will become more geographically diverse in the years ahead.