TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami pledged Monday to do his best to lead his team to the championship next year before starting his Major League Baseball career in 2026.

"It will be my final season in Japan, and I'm only thinking about producing results and winning the championship," Murakami told a press conference in Tokyo after he signed for an estimated 600 million yen ($3.96 million) for 2025, the final year of his three-year deal.

After Murakami's Triple Crown-winning 2022 season, Yakult promised Murakami he would be posted for a move to MLB after three more seasons with the club.

The 24-year-old third baseman led the Central League with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs this year while batting .244 for the fifth-place Swallows.

Murakami is a .270 career hitter with 224 homers and 600 RBIs.