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Former Boston Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura brings his talents to Japan.

The right-hander will pitch in Nippon Professional Baseball, where Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida previously played.Sawamura signs contract with Chiba Lotte Marines According to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.

Sawamura, who spent the past two seasons with the Red Sox, has appeared in 104 games with the bullpen, posting a 3.39 ERA and a 6-2 record. The 34-year-old ran his strongest campaign when he made his major league baseball debut in 2021. He appeared in his 55 games, won five, posted a 3.06 ERA, and in 53 innings he had 61 strikeouts.

In September 2022, the Red Sox severed ties with Sawamura and released him after Boston first drafted him on August 29.

In 2011, Sawamura started his professional baseball career with NBP. Through nine seasons, mostly with the Yomiuri Giants, Sawamura posted a 2.77 ERA in 868 1/3 innings and pitched in 352 games, including 88 starts.

Sawamura will be 35 years old in April.