Orix Buffaloes slugger Kazuhiro Kiyohara, who is suffering from a bruised finger, could return to the lineup for a game against the Lotte Marines as early as Tuesday.
Doctors originally told Kiyohara that the injury, which he sustained when he was hit by a pitch in his little left finger in a game against the Nippon Ham Fighters on Friday, would require three weeks to recover.
But Orix manager Katsuhiro Nakamura said before Sunday's game that the 38-year-old appears to be making a quick recovery.
"We'll have him take batting practice on the day of the game and then decide. He's recovering much quicker than I expected," Nakamura said.
Kiyohara did a light workout on Sunday before his team's game against the Softbank Hawks. He said the swelling in his finger has gone down considerably.