Orix Buffaloes infielder Norihiro Nakamura was removed from the active roster Wednesday as the pain in his left arm has not subsided since being hit by a pitch in a game on May 13.

"I can't hold a bat strongly. Even painkillers don't work. But I'll try to make a full recovery and return to action in 10 days," said Nakamura, who led the Pacific League with 39 homers and 110 RBIs in 2000 and with 132 RBIs in 2001.

This season, Nakamura has struggled to a .202 average with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 47 games.