The Yokohama BayStars on Monday fined infielder Norihiro Komada 300,000 yen for leaving Sunday's game after being pulled for a pinch-hitter and removed the 20-year veteran from the team's active roster.
Komada was lifted in the sixth inning after striking out twice in his previous at-bats at Yokohama Stadium as the BayStars were struggling to end a seven-game losing streak that left the 1998 Japan Series champions in last place in the Central League.
Yokohama rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Hiroshima Carp 3-1. "I have come here to accept the penalty, but plan to improve my condition to hit some more," Komada said at the ballpark Monday after meeting with BayStars general manager Yoshio Noguchi.
Manager Hiroshi Gondo explained the BayStars captain was not being removed from the first-team roster as part of the team's disciplinary action. "(Komada) is not hitting because his mental and physical condition are in disarray, so we want him to correct these things," Gondo said, adding the slugger will be sent to Yokohama's farm team.