Fukuoka Softbank Hawks third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda will return to the Pacific League powerhouse instead of moving to the major leagues as a free agent, he said Thursday.
"From my two choices, I chose to stay with the Hawks," the 32-year-old told a news conference at Yafuoku Dome.
The Hawks are expected to offer their captain a four-year deal with the two-time defending Japan Series champions worth an estimated ¥1.6 billion (roughly $13.3 million).
Matsuda is a career .277 hitter with 161 career home runs since joining the Hawks out of Asia University in 2006.