Softbank Hawks announced on the 13th that pitcher Kazuki Sugiyama underwent surgery at a hospital in Saga City to repair a fracture of the fifth metacarpal shaft in his left hand, and that the surgery was successfully completed. He is expected to be out of action for one to two months. As it is not his dominant hand, he may be able to return to play as early as May.

Nippon-Ham Sugiyama, last season's saves leader, was so frustrated with his runs own pitch 9th-inning save against Escondido on March 11 that he punched the bench and broke his left hand, and was removed from the roster on March 12.