Orix BlueWave pitcher Shuichi Iwashita has been hospitalized in Kobe with acute leukemia, the Pacific League team announced Friday. Iwashita, in his second year with Orix, had a medical checkup after complaining of fatigue and suffering a continuous fever since the beginning of this month. The 28-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia and has been in the hospital since July 10. He's expected to be hospitalized for four months.
Iwashita joined Orix as a fourth-round draft pick from the Mitsubishi Motor Okazaki club last year. The lefty from Shizuoka Prefecture marked his first career win in May last year against Lotte.