Former major leaguer Daisuke Matsuzaka said Monday he is eager to play in this summer's All-Star games after Nippon Professional Baseball's announcement that the popular veteran had been voted onto his league's roster by the fans.
The 37-year-old Chunichi Dragons right-hander received 394,704 votes and was selected for the annual All-Star series for the first time in 12 years and the ninth time in his career. Yomiuri Giants right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano was second in the Central League voting for starting pitchers with 244,188 votes. Sugano leads the CL in shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA.
"It is an event all baseball players hope to participate in. I didn't think I would come as far as to be selected for the All-Star roster," Matsuzaka said. "It's not like I've been a regular member of our rotation, so I feel apologetic toward those guys who have been doing enough to carry their full load."