Yomiuri Giants pitcher Hisanori Takahashi broke a cheek bone when he was hit by a foul ball in the dugout during a Central League game at Jingu Stadium on Wednesday.
Takahashi was carried off on a stretcher after a hard-hit foul ball off the bat of Yakult Swallows outfielder Norichika Aoki struck the right side of his face in the fifth inning.
Takahashi is one of the two left-handers in the season-opening rotation of early season leader Yomiuri. He lost his only start of the season in a 9-1 defeat by the Yokohama BayStars last Saturday.