Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Michihiro Ogasawara has fulfilled the requirements to become a free agent but said Monday he has not considered what course of action, if any, he will take with the Pacific League club.
Michihiro Ogasawara
"Honestly, I feel grateful to have made it this far in my career. Right now, I'm not even thinking about whether to exercise my right," the 32-year-old Ogasawara said in a news conference while traveling to Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, for a game against the Hanshin Tigers on Tuesday.
Ogasawara said during last offseason that he hoped to talk with other ballclubs, leaving the door open to whether he would exercise his right to free agency.
He batted over .300 for five consecutive seasons until 2004 and has won the batting title twice. Ogasawara was also a member of Japan's championship team at the World Baseball Classic in March.