Softbank Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh, who underwent a successful operation last month to remove his stomach after being diagnosed with stomach cancer, is scheduled to be released from the hospital on Wednesday morning, team officials said Tuesday.
Oh, the owner of the Japanese all-time home run record, will hold a press conference with chief surgeon Masaki Kitajima and Softbank Hawks acting owner Kazuhiko Kasai in attendance upon his release from Keio University Hospital in Tokyo.
Oh, 66, is expected to rest for the next few days at his residence before moving to a special facility where he will recuperate for about one month.
On Tuesday, Oh tidied himself up with a haircut at the hospital barber shop and spoke with friends and family on the telephone to report the news of his release. Softbank players were elated to hear the good news.
"That's just like our manager to be released so quickly. But I don't want him to overdo it," said Softbank infielder Munenori Kawasaki.
Oh announced he would undergo surgery for a stomach tumor on July 5. He traveled to Tokyo the next day where he was hospitalized and had surgery on July 17.
Oh holds the career home run record in Japan with 868 during a career that ended in 1980. He has managed the Hawks since 1995.
In March, Oh guided Japan to the inaugural World Baseball Classic title.