Outfielder Yusuke Masago, who played in 180 games for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, will represent China in March's World Baseball Classic, his current corporate team, Hitachi, announced Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Masago, a native of Kyoto Prefecture and whose father is from China, began his professional career with SoftBank in 2013 after the Hawks made him their fourth-round draft pick in 2012.
"I'll play the way I usually do, by giving my all," Masago wrote on Instagram.
Masago batted .219 with three home runs and 16 RBIs between 2017 and 2022 before being released by SoftBank last December and joining Hitachi.
China will compete in Pool B at Tokyo Dome against Japan, Australia, the Czech Republic and South Korea starting March 9.