Yomiuri Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe was removed from the active roster Monday after being diagnosed with a bruised right thumb, officials of the Central League club said. Abe underwent a medical examination the same day but there was no ligament damage found.
The 27-year-old Abe will need about a week before he can resume practices, club officials said. Yomiuri has suffered a series of injuries to its major players, including outfielder Yoshinobu Takahashi and third baseman Hiroki Kokubo and will likely to be without its starting catcher when the regular season resumes on Friday.