Report: Morgan signs with Yokohama BayStars

Published Jan. 23, 2013 8:05 p.m. ET

foxsports

Former Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Nyjer Morgan is reportedly headed to play in Japan next season.

According to the Japanese newspaper Nikkan, Morgan has agreed to a contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the Japanese Central League.

Morgan, 32, hit just .239 with three home runs and 16 RBI in 2012.

Though fans fell in love with his alter-ego, "Tony Plush," Morgan will most be remembered for driving in the winning run to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 5 of the 2011 National League Division Series.

Acquired in a trade from the Washington Nationals just prior to Opening Day in 2011, Morgan sparked the Brewers and was a key cog in winning the division, hitting .304 with four home runs and 37 RBI while claiming the everyday spot in center field.

Morgan couldn't carry over the success into 2012, and he eventually found himself buried on the Brewers bench. With center fielder Carlos Gomez having a breakout year and Norichika Aoki coming over from Japan and claiming the starting spot in right field, Morgan was the odd man out. Even rookie Logan Schafer played ahead of Morgan when he was recalled in September.

The Brewers didn't tender Morgan a contract for 2013 and he refused an assignment to Triple-A Nashville.

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