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Phoenix – A day prior to pitchers and catchers reporting to Maryvale, the Milwaukee Brewers have released left-hander Pat Misch.

According to the team, Misch requested to be let go so that he could pursue an opportunity with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan.

Misch, 34, signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league camp on Jan. 9.

He'd made 78 major-league appearances (24 starts) with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets dating back to 2006, going 4-15 with a 4.80 ERA. He was coming to the Brewers having thrown a no-hitter in Game 7 of the Taiwan Series last October, lifting his team to the title in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Misch, who would have gotten a look as a reliever with Milwaukee, was one of just five left-handers invited to big-league camp along with Will Smith, Josh Hader, Chris Capuano and Cesar Jimenez. Only Smith is a member of the team's 40-man roster.

The Brewers now have 18 non-roster players coming to camp and 39 players on their 40-man roster.