Former Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima was deactivated by the Hanshin Tigers on Friday with sciatic nerve pain.
According to the team, the 35-year-old Johjima has been increasingly bothered by numbness in his left hip area. There is no timetable for his return and the form of treatment has yet to be decided.
This season, Johjima was converted to first base because of pain in his right elbow but has often been on the bench. He has batted a paltry .179 in 24 games without a single homer.