Tsuyoshi Nishioka will join the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League, according to news reports over the weekend.

Japan Times online, citing a report form the Kyoto Times, posted this brief story on Sunday.

By signing with Hanshin, Nishioka decided against rejoining his former team, the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Earlier this month, Nishioka said that he'd heard from several teams in Japan about resuming his career with them. Nishioka walked away from the third year of his contract with the Twins after spending almost all of last season at Class AAA Rochester, and not appearing to have a chance of playing in the majors in 2013.

In 71 games with the Twins, Nishioka batted .215 with 14 errors in 71 games.