Seibu Lions

Kazuhisa Makita was helped off the field after he took a batted ball off his right leg in the 1st inning of Wednesday night's game against Hiroshima.  He was removed from the game after coaches watched him take his warm-ups before the 2nd inning.  He was later taken to a hospital in Tokorozawa where he was diagnosed with a bruise.  He is considered day-to-day (the team will wait for the swelling to go away before deciding on is next start).

Source: Sports Hochi 5/22/2013, Sponichi 5/22/2013

Yakult Swallows

Takeaki Tokuyama popped a blister on his right middle finger during his start against Nippon Ham on Wednesday.

Source: Sponichi 5/22/2013

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Ryoji Aikawa could return to the active roster in time for the upcoming Softbank series at Jingu Stadium (May 25-26).  Aikawa dislocated his shoulder during a game against Yokohama on April 6.  He played in his first rehab game on the May 12.

Tony Barnette pitched in a Ni-gun game against Nippon Ham on Wednesday and tossed a shutout inning in relief.  This was his first rehab game since he suffered a strain in his right oblique.

Source: Sponichi 5/22/2013

Hanshin Tigers

Takahiro Arai was removed on defense in the 12th inning of Wednesday's game against Lotte after he hurt his right ankle while playing defense in the 11th -- Toshiaki Imae hit a ground ball to short and came into contact with Arai's right leg while running to first.  He received ice treatment after the game and was walking around on his own.  He told reporters that he was probably going to be ok.

Source: Nikkan Sports 5/22/2013

Ryoji Aikawa (Yakult) took a hard hit at home plate as he tried to block a run from scoring in the 4th inning of today's game against Yokohama (Tony Blanco was the runner).  He was removed from the game on defense in the 6th inning.  He was later taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a dislocated left shoulder.  He will require about two months for a full recovery.

Source: Sponichi 4/6/2013

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Nobuhiko Matsunaka (Softbank) left today's game after he hurt his right calf while running the bases in the 4th inning.  He will likely be taken off the active roster and will have his leg examined early next week.

Source: Sponichi 4/6/2013

Ichi-gun and Ni-gun players had the day off.

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Ryoji Aikawa spent time taking batting practice against a pitching machine during his day off today.  He told reporters that his right flank was fine.  He is expected to attend WBC mini-camp.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/12/2013

Ryoji Aikawa was examined at a hospital in Urasoe, Okinawa on Saturday after he complained of discomfort in his right side.  MRI tests did not reveal any problems.

Source: Sanspo 2/10/2013

Aikawa re-joined the main group for workouts today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/10/2013, Sports Hochi 2/10/2013

Toshiaki Imae told reporters today that he does not plan on exercising his domestic FA option and will remain in Chiba for at least one more year.  With regards to what he plans for after 2013, he said, "I would like to hear what other teams have to say."  Source: Sports Hochi 11/7/2012

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Ryoji Aikawa has decided not to exercise his international FA option and will remain with the Swallows.  He has already informed team.  Aikawa re-earned his option this year with his injury exception days.  Source: Sanspo 11/7/2012

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The Yokohama Bay Stars are planning to reach out to Daisuke Matsuzaka's agent, Scott Boras, within the next few days.  They could be preparing a multi-year deal worth over 600M yen and will be ready to leave it on the table until just before the start of the 2013 season.

Matsuzaka is currently working out in the US.  He told reporters at the end of the current season he never considered returning to Japan in 2013.  For now, he is looking for an MLB team that will use him on a regular basis over the course of a full season (money is secondary to playing time).

Source: Sponichi 11/7/2012

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Hanshin Tigers owner Shinya Sakai on Kyuji Fujikawa: "After all, [Fujikawa] is in the US right now.  We understand he has those feelings."  This was the first time a top-ranking team official admitted that there was a good chance Fujikawa could be leaving for the US.  Source: Sports Hochi 11/7/2012

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Kensuke Tanaka (HAM) will most likely have to settle for a split contract, but that should not be a sticking point for him.  His agent is Alan Nero.  Source: Sponichi 11/7/2012, Sports Hochi 11/7/2012

The Colorado Rockies are reportedly interested in Tanaka.  Source: Sponichi 11/7/2012

Yakult Swallows

Ryoji Aikawa was evaluated at the hospital and diagnosed with a fracture in his left second costal cartilage.  He will require about six weeks for a full recovery.  Source: Sports Hochi Twitter 8/18/2012

UPDATE @ 6:57pm - Aikawa suffered the injury while playing defense during Thursday's game against Hiroshima.  He was in the starting line-up on Friday, but left early.  Source: Sports Hochi 8/18/2012

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Hiroyasu Tanaka felt discomfort in his right hand while playing defense in the 1st inning of Friday's game against the Hanshin Tigers.  He was later removed from the game (after the 3rd inning) and was taken to the hospital where they found no damage to the bones.  Source: Nikkan Sports 8/17/2012, Sanspo 8/18/2012

Yokohama Bay Stars

Norihiro Nakamura was taken off the active roster today so that he can focus on rehabbing his right elbow.  Source: Nikkan Sports 8/18/2012

Ryoji Aikawa took a batted foul ball of his right big toe (he was catching) during the second inning of Wednesday night's game against the Yokohama Bay Stars and was removed on defense in the 4th inning.  An examination at the hospital revealed a fracture in the distal phalanx of his right big toe that will require four weeks for a full recovery.

Aikawa will be taken off the active roster today.

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Today was the last day of the third block of spring camp for the Ni-gun Swallows.  The Ni-gun Swallows have the day off tomorrow.

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Ryoji Aikawa currently weighs ninety-three kilograms and would like to stay above ninety for the start of the regular season.

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Junji Ogawa hinted to reporters on Saturday that Masanori Ishikawa may be his current pick to start on opening day.  Ishikawa is currently scheduled to start a game against the Hanshin Tigers on February 25.

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Shohei Tateyama could get to pitch against the Rakuten Eagles on February 26.

Between bullpen sessions and situational batting practice, Tateyama threw a total 136 pitches on Saturday.

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Eiji Bando visited Swallows' camp on Saturday.

Junji Ogawa, the coaching staff, and the players attended a welcoming ceremony at the Urasoe City Offices before practices this morning.  About 200 fans showed up for the event.

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Yoshinori Sato cut his left pinky toe before arriving in Okinawa.  The cut led to an infection that caused foot swelling and a fever.  Because of this, Yoshinori worked out separately from the rest of the group today -- his workouts including playing catch and some light running.

"It is not serious.  We will see how he is does today and tomorrow before deciding what to do next," said chief trainer Kobayashi.

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Ryoji Aikawa is the first official team captain since Shinya Miyamoto in 2008.

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Kenichi Matsuoka was named captain of the pitching staff on Tuesday.

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Bullpen sessions:

Wednesday

Shohei Tateyama threw 102 pitches (including change-ups) to a squatting catcher at about 40%.

Ryoji Aikawa returned to Japan from his training in Saipan on Saturday.

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The Swallows told reporters that Yoshinori Sato is being considered to play in the charity game against the CPBL on March 10.  However, the team is concerned about his health (he struggled with right shoulder pains last year) and put the offer on hold.

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The money the team received for posting for Norichika Aoki will be used to help pay for the renovations at Toda Stadium.

"We have not made any decisions yet, but we are in the process of fixing the Ni-gun facilities and we would like to name something after him," said team president Tsuyoshi Kinugasa.

According to Sponichi, the posting money could be used to help pay for fixing the seating area behind home plate.