Chiba Lotte Marines catcher Tomoya Satozaki will put an end to his career at the end of the current season, his Pacific League club announced on Thursday.
Satozaki, 38, will hold a press conference on Friday.
"Looking back on my baseball career, I can really say that I am satisfied. I have absolutely no regrets," Satozaki said in a statement released by the team. "I feel truly blessed for all the support I have received throughout my career."
Satozaki joined the Chiba-based club as a second-round draft choice in 1998. He helped lead Lotte to Japan Series titles in 2005 and 2010 and was a member of the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic championship team.
Satozaki's 16th year in Japanese baseball, he is in the final year of a two-year contract. But he has struggled this year with injuries and was removed from the active roster in May before undergoing surgery on his left knee. Thus far, Satozaki is batting just .257 after playing in just 16 games in 2014.
