New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui returned home after an injury-plagued season Tuesday and said he is looking forward to facing Daisuke Matsuzaka in the major leagues next year.
"I'm hoping both of us will play well when we meet in a game," Matsui said shortly after arriving at Narita airport for his first homecoming since the end of the major league season.
Matsui's fourth season in the majors was cut short after he broke his left wrist while trying for a sliding catch on a fly ball in a May 11 game against American League East rival Boston.
Matsui underwent surgery the following day and was sidelined for four months, limiting him to 51 game appearances in the regular season with eight homers, 29 RBIs and a .302 batting average.
The injury ended his streak of playing in 1,768 consecutive games, including his stint with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan that started Aug. 22, 1993, in his rookie season.