'Giving up 20.6 billion won in salary': Japanese star Darvish also made a massive donation! Is he a baseball player or a philanthropist?

*This content was translated by AI.

Veteran right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish (40) of the San Diego Padres is continuing to make remarkable moves both on and off the field. After voluntarily giving up a salary exceeding 20 billion won this season, he has now delivered one of the largest donations in the club's history, spreading warmth to the local community.

According to a report by AJ Casabell, a journalist for MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, on the 21st (Korean time), Darvish and the San Diego Padres organization transferred a large donation to 'Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego,' a local youth support organization. The Padres explained that this contribution is "one of the largest single donations in the club's history."

This donation was made as part of a memorial fund project honoring the dedication and legacy of Peter Seidler, the former owner of the San Diego Padres, who passed away in 2023. The donated funds will be used entirely to expand various customized programs aimed at promoting physical health, providing basic academic support, and fostering character development among local youth.

Upon learning of the donation, the organization announced that it would rename its Clairemont branch, located in downtown San Diego, to the 'San Diego Padres Branch' as a gesture of gratitude. Opened in 1961, this facility served 3,438 young people last year alone and supports over 20,000 disadvantaged individuals and local children annually across the entire organization.

The new ownership group of the Padres, who recently acquired the club (Kwanzaa Jones and Jose E. Feliciano), issued a statement on the donation: "To be dedicated to San Diego means giving everything to the youth who will lead the future of the region." Michelle Marin, the organization's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), also expressed deep gratitude, stating that it would be "decisively helpful in improving the quality of programs."

Darvish's extraordinary act of kindness has resonated widely within and beyond the baseball world. Ahead of this season, he had been sidelined due to reconstructive surgery on his right elbow ligament. He voluntarily placed himself on the Restricted List, stating, "I cannot receive money while I am unable to contribute to the team." As a result, he gave up his entire 2024 salary of $15 million (approximately 20.6 billion won), generating enormous buzz in both the United States and Japan.

After unhesitatingly letting go of his astronomical salary, Darvish once again generously donated a large sum for the children of San Diego, his 'second hometown.' Going beyond being an ace on the field, he is demonstrating the true character of a sports star.

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*This content was translated by AI.