Former Yomiuri Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima, who is rehabilitating from a stroke suffered in March, will not lead the Japan national baseball team at the upcoming Athens Olympics, an informed source said Saturday.
Nagashima will apparently still be registered as the official manager of the team in the event his decision not to travel to Athens is announced, though "Nagashima Japan" will most likely be led by head coach Kiyoshi Nakahata when the Olympic baseball tournament gets under way Aug. 15.
Nagashima is still partially paralyzed on the right side of his body, but has made progress and is now able to walk without a cane.
The source said Nagashima has no choice but to give up on going to Greece to skipper the national team as his doctor has told him he cannot authorize the trip considering the long flight and oppressive heat in Athens, though the possibility of him having another stroke is remote.