SENDAI (Kyodo) Former major league infielder Kazuo Matsui said Monday he hopes he can respond to his new club's expectations after rejoining Japanese baseball for the first time in eight years with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
"I want to play in as many games as possible," said Matsui, who will make ¥300 million, plus performances bonuses, in a two-year contract with the Sendai club. Matsui will wear the No. 32 jersey.
"This year, I was in the minors part way through the season but I am happy that Rakuten made an inquiry about me. Manager (Senichi) Hoshino has told me, 'Let's make a new history together,' so I want to be able to do the celebratory toss of the manager," Matsui said at a news conference.