The Hiroshima Carp on Wednesday announced the appointment of Kenjiro Nomura as manager for next season.
The 43-year-old former Carp infielder has signed a one-year contract and will become the youngest of 12 Japanese baseball club managers.
"I'm so excited," Nomura said. "I'll try to win the Central League and Japan Series titles. I don't want to see players satisfied with a Climax Series berth."
Nomura will take over from American Marty Brown, whose hopes of extending his stay at the club ended after Hiroshima was eliminated from contention for the third and final Central League playoff spot.