FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Softbank Hawks left-hander Toshiya Sugiuchi has pulled out of Japan's baseball team for the upcoming Beijing Olympic qualifiers because of a right groin injury, the Pacific League club said Monday.

Sugiuchi, one of the 34 final candidates to play on the team, was diagnosed in a Fukuoka hospital the same day as having an inflamed groin and needing four weeks of rest and treatment.

Sugiuchi was a member of the World Baseball Classic-winning Japanese team in 2006 and had a 15-6 record with a 2.46 ERA in 28 starts this year.