Yoshinobu Takahashi, who has suffered from chronic lower back pain, was sent to the plate as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning on Aug. 28, 2009, against the Hanshin Tigers at Koshien Stadium.
It was his only action of the season. He underwent surgery in September.
At that time, everybody thought that his professional career was in jeopardy, but he wasn't done.
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