Former Seibu Lions outfielder Tatsuya Ozeki has decided to abandon his wish to play in minor leagues this season, baseball sources said Wednesday.
During a tryout in Los Angeles for the Milwaukee Brewers in early February, Ozeki gained recognition for his defensive capabilities and was set to sign a minor league contract. But he later learned that all the spots for minor league foreign players have been filled, making it difficult to continue negotiations.
Ozeki was released by the Lions after the 2005 season, when he struggled to a .198 batting average with no homers and one RBI in 47 games.
The 29-year-old joined the Lions in 1995 as their second-round draft pick and was named the Pacific League Rookie of the Year in 1998. His best season came in 2002 when he hit .314 with four homers, 50 RBIs and 153 hits in 135 games.