Konsta Kurikka only changed sports a year ago. It was worth it.
- Konsta Kurikka, who is chasing an MLB contract, has already collected three times more money than in baseball in one season.
- Suomalaistoivo signed his first professional contract.
- Lajipomo believes in the possibilities in the taala league.
It takes courage to leave a secure career and go out into the world alone.
Finnish baseball champion Konsta Kurikka, 21, retired from the Nationals last fall and pursued his dream of professional baseball. The bank account says that it has paid off.
– My manager and I have collected three times the amount compared to what my seasonal salary was in baseball, Kurikka says.
Iltalehti reported in 2020 that the best players in the men’s Superpesis earn 50,000–60,000 euros per season. STT said in January 2021 from a survey by the players’ association, according to which the average salary of a men’s major league player was around 13,000 euros before the coronavirus pandemic.
Kurikka was not a first-class basketball player with a salary, but tripling your own league in less than a year is a tough trick.
– A few big supporters have been found who believe in the story and want to be part of it. There are also a lot of small partners. The story sells. This is something that has never been done in Finland, Kurika’s manager Juho Vänskä tells.
Konsta Kurikka signed a professional contract. Inka Soveri
According to Vänskä, Kurika’s partnerships are between 500 and 10,000 euros.
Companies have enabled the development of the Finnish promise. He has played baseball in Spain and Germany this year, and has not had to do side work.
– It would never have been possible to go to Spain or Germany without a large group of supporters, Vänskä admits.
Level up
Since October, Kurikka earns his living from the player contract.
Next week he will go to the Australian premier league ABL, which is a professional league. Kurikka gets almost as much money from playing for the Brisbane Bandits as from the Superpesis contract.
No Finnish baseball player has played in the ABL before. 43 players from Australia’s top league have made it to the top league MLB.
– You have to take steps forward all the time. This is the first big step. It’s great to be compensated for playing, says Kurikka.
In addition, Finnish hope plays in the United International Baseball League (UIBL).
The UIBL begins in February with a nine-match exhibition tournament in Dubai. In addition to Kurika, there is only one other player from the Nordic countries.
It is the fifth highest paying baseball league in the world.
– It’s an even tougher series than Australia. Half are MLB players or have played there. The level is high.
– It is the place of the screen. I see how I can serve against the best in the world. I think I’ll make it there if I work hard during the winter.
Kurikka bets on his dream. Inka Soveri
Kurika was supposed to go to Australia already last year, but the country had closed its borders due to the corona virus. Now the deal is done.
– It is a much tougher series than the Bundesliga. There are former MLB players. I also play in the second league. It is quite close to the level of the Bundesliga.
– It’s great to be in a team that is tougher than you, it develops more.
MLB possible
Kurikka signed his Australian contract on Thursday in Espoo. Anni Saarela
General Secretary of the European Baseball and Softball Association Ami Baran is impressed by Kurika’s development. He believes that the Finn can still make it to the MLB.
– Konsta is young and strong. He may very well have a future in the MLB. He is an inspiration to all players in Europe. I really believe in him.
According to Barani, Kurika needs to learn more tactics.
Hitters try to learn what kind of decisions a pitcher makes by watching videos. Kurika should pass surprisingly and in such a way that it is difficult to hit the ball.
– You have to be able to fool the hitter. It is very important to reach the top level. You have to learn to control your movement and serve.