Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who spent seven seasons in the Major Leagues, announced Tuesday he will retire at the end of the season.
The 41-year-old Kuroda last pitched in the U.S. in 2014, and he has spent the last two seasons pitching for Nippon Professional Baseball's Hiroshima Carp, the club he began his professional career with in 1997.
Kuroda's career will end in the Japan Series, where his Hiroshima team faces the Nippon Ham Fighters.
"Winning the league championship and advancing to the Japan Series is one big reason for this," Kuroda said a news conference at a Hiroshima hotel, according to Japan's Kyodo News.