Chicago White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi has informed Japan team manager of his intention to withdraw from the Japanese national baseball team that will take place in the World Baseball Classics in March.

According to Iguchi, he wants to concentrate on preparing for his major league sophomore season.

“Unfortunately, I’ve decided to withdraw from the squad,” Iguchi said while training on Japan’s southernmost island of Okinawa, Kyodo News agency reported.

“This is the second year of my two-year contract with the White Sox. The team expects more from me than in the first year, so I would have to be in spring training,” Kyodo quoted him as saying.

Hideki Matsui of the New New York Yankees also plans to sit out the World Classic.