The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected to play in the winter leagues in Puerto Rico, manager Kimiyasu Kudo said Monday.

"I've been told it's Puerto Rico," Kudo said at Yafuoku Dome, where Matsuzaka and the Hawks began fall training. "He may be close to figuring it all out. If it helps him get in better shape, then I'm all for it."

A right-shoulder injury has limited Matsuzaka to just one top-team appearance since signing with SoftBank last year. Earlier this month on Oct. 2 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the former Boston Red Sox star took the mound for the first time in Japan in 10 years.

Matsuzaka, though, pitched just one inning, giving up five runs on three hits, two walks and two hit batsmen.

Joining Matsuzaka in the Caribbean will be fellow former major leaguer Ryota Igarashi, who is headed for the Dominican league. The reliever pitched in only 33 games this season.