Softbank Hawks right-hander Nagisa Arakaki will be out of the first stage of the Pacific League playoffs because of appendicitis, team officials said Monday.
Arakaki, the 2004 PL strikeout leader who went 13-5 with a 3.01 ERA in the regular season, was removed from the active roster Monday after being hospitalized in Fukuoka on Friday ahead of the playoff series against the Seibu Lions opening on Saturday.
Arakaki will not undergo surgery and is expected to leave hospital later this week. He is eligible to return to the roster on Oct. 12 in the middle of the second stage of the playoffs between the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and the winner of the best-of-three first stage.
Nippon Ham finished in first place in the regular season one game clear of Seibu and 4.5 games ahead of Softbank. The Fighters will have a one-win advantage at the start of the second stage beginning Oct. 11.
The Hawks struggled as the regular season wrapped up, losing key games against the Lions and Fighters that helped send Softbank to the No. 3 seed for the PL postseason.
Lotte to keep Benny
CHIBA (Kyodo) Outfielder Benny Agbayani has agreed to re-sign with the Chiba Lotte Marines for an unchanged 130 million yen in annual salary, the Pacific League club said Sunday.
The 34-year-old former New York Met batted .281 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs in his third season in Japan.