NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo (Kyodo) -- Hanshin Tigers slugger Teruaki Sato has informed the Central League club of his wish to move to Major League Baseball via the posting system before he becomes a free agent.

The 25-year-old third baseman asked the Tigers on Monday to post him in the future. He made the request on the same day he renewed his contract for 2025, which pays him an estimated 150 million yen ($960,000), unchanged from 2024.

"For the first time, I told the front office what I've had in my mind," Sato said. "I've made up my mind, and I want to set my goals clearly."

The left-handed hitter batted .268 with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs in 120 games in 2024, failing to reach 20 homers for the first time in his four-year pro career.

"Extra-base hits are important, so I want to work on that more," Sato said.

Meanwhile, he struggled at third base, committing a career-worst 23 errors, the most by any third baseman this year.