Fukuoka Softbank Hawks shortstop Munenori Kawasaki was removed from the active roster Wednesday after being diagnosed with a broken finger and is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks, team officials said.
Kawasaki suffered the injury to his right middle finger when he tried to catch a ball during fielding practice a day earlier before a game against the Lotte Marines at Yahoo Dome. "All I can do now is hope my finger heals quickly. I am healthy in every other respect, so it's a pity," said Kawasaki, who is scheduled to start running again in about a week.
Kawasaki is 16-for-53 (.302) in 14 games this season.