TOKYO (AP) β Hideki Matsui went to bat for children affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and hit a home run.
The 2009 World Series MVP teamed up with former New York Yankees teammate Derek Jeter on Saturday to raise funds for children from Japan’s disaster-stricken Tohoku region.
Jeter and Matsui conducted a youth baseball clinic then managed middle school teams in a three-inning contest, won 2-0 by Matsui’s squad.
The day’s final event was a home run derby between the U.S. and Japanese students and Matsui thrilled the fans when he stepped up to the plate and hit a towering homer over the right-field wall at Tokyo Dome, where he spent 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants before heading the U.S.
During his four-day visit to Japan, Jeter also took in a sumo tournament and visited Matsui’s hometown.
