Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma will join teammate Robinson Cano as part of the MLB team traveling to Japan for the MLB-Japan All-Star series this month, the team announced Friday.
Iwakuma, who had his $7 million contract option for 2015 vested by the Mariners on Thursday, is the second Japanese player after Tsuyoshi Wada, who played for the Chicago Cubs this season, to be added to the roster for the exhibition series.
New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda has also been named to the MLB All-Stars' team.
"I am very happy and honored to be part of this All-Star team," Iwakuma said in a statement in English. "I look forward to pitching in my hometown during the series."