Nippon-Ham pitcher Yukiya Saito (31) announced on the 15th that he had joined the team's second team after suffering a right soleus muscle strain.

He was diagnosed with the disease after undergoing an examination at a hospital in Nago City, Okinawa on the 14th. He is expected to be unable to return to the game for about two weeks. This is a painful departure for a potential closer who posted ERA of 1.35 in 47 games last season.