Former New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui has been hired as a special advisor to team general manager Brian Cashman, the American League club announced on Tuesday.
The Japanese slugger, a fan favorite at Yankee Stadium, was named 2009 World Series MVP after batting .615 with three home runs and eight RBIs against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Matsui, 40, will spend most of the 2015 season traveling throughout the Yankees' minor league system, focusing on aspects of hitting with managers, batting coaches and players, the club said.
Matsui played seven seasons with the Yankees (2003-2009), posting a .292 batting average with 140 home runs, 597 RBIs and a .370 on-base percentage and competed in two World Series.
He also played three additional Major League Baseball seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays.