Manny Ramirez will play professional baseball once again in 2017 — in Japan.
The former MLB star has signed a contract with the Kochi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku Island League Plus, the club announced Monday, reviving a playing career that's been dormant since 2014 when Ramirez was a player-coach with the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate.
The SILP is a four-team independent league that's not associated with Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan's top-tier professional league.
Ramirez, 44, last played in the majors in 2011, when he made 17 plate appearance with the Rays.
The 19-year MLB veteran is on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year, though he's not expected to carry the requisite 75 percent of the vote for election.