Chunichi Dragons veteran slugger Takeshi Yamasaki formally announced his retirement Monday, saying he will call it a career at the end of the season after 27 years in baseball.
"I feel good physically and I do want to keep playing for a few more years," Yamasaki said during a news conference. "But after interleague, I felt like I had to make a decision if I was ever demoted.
"I'm proud to have had a career as long as 27 years."