Hideki Matsui hired as manager of the Yomiuri Giants in Japanese baseball

TOKYO (AP) — Former New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui was named Friday as the new manager of the Yomiuri Giants, his club until his departure for the United States.

The 52-year-old Matsui hit a combined 507 home runs in Japan and the United States in a 20-year pro career.

Matsui moved in 2003 to Major League Baseball and spent most of his career with the Yankees.

He batted .282 with 175 home runs and 760 RBIs in MLB. In Japan before that, he hit .304 with 332 home runs and 889 RBSs.

Matsui replaces interim manager Hideki Hashigami, who took over in May after Shinnosuke Abe resigned from the job.

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