Former Yankee Hideki Matsui pitched in an amateur baseball tournament

Hideki Matsui's professional baseball career may be over, but he is still spending time on the diamond as the starting pitcher for Team Matsui in an amateur tournament over the weekend.

Hideki Matsui's professional baseball career may be over, but he is still spending time on the diamond as the starting pitcher. He played for Team Matsui in an amateur tournament over the weekend. 

The former Yankees slugger was the starting pitcher for his squad in the championship game of the Nippon Club's President's Cup tournament on Sunday in New York City, reports The New York Times.

Matsui's team won an extra-innings game with the 2009 World Series MVP striking out 10 batters and adding two hits and two walks in the game despite batting right-handed to even things out for the other team.

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The outfielder's teammates told the TimesMatsui's return was fueled purely by a passion for the sport.

“The reason he’s here, I think, is a love of baseball,” said Kamal Ramani, a physician during the week and a reserve and coach for Team Matsui on weekends. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s as simple as that. He loves the game.”