Yankees cut Fukudome from Triple-A squad

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Outfielder Kosuke Fukudome was released from his minor league contract by the Class AAA Scranton Wilkes/Barre Yankees, the team announced Monday.

The 35-year-old outfielder began the season with the Chicago White Sox. Used primarily as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement, Fukudome batted .171 in 24 games before going on the disabled list in June with a rib injury. The White Sox released him on June 28. He signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees in July, but was never called up to the parent club.

Scranton, which qualified for the International League playoffs, released Fukudome on the final day of its regular season.

Fukudome, the 2006 Central League MVP and a member of Japan's two World Baseball Classic title-winning teams, has a career major league average of .258 in 596 major league games, mostly with the Chicago Cubs. He finished the 2011 season with the Cleveland Indians.

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