Chiba Lotte Marines shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka, whose team was just crowned the Japan Series champion, decided Tuesday to take a shot at the major leagues through the posting system this winter.

Nishioka will make a formal request to the club on Wednesday. The earliest Nishioka would be eligible for overseas free agency is the 2013 offseason, but the 26-year-old is hoping to make the switch early in his career via the system in which the highest bidder wins the exclusive right to negotiate a contract.

"In the end I was able to win a Japan Series title and that was a defining point for me," said Nishioka. "Now I want to pursue my childhood dream."