Nippon-Ham announced on the 21st that pitcher Kenta Uehara has been diagnosed with a "right hamstring muscle strain" and is expected to be out of action for 2 to 4 weeks.

Uehara pitched in the 7th inning of the game against Rakuten Eagles on the 20th (at Escon Stadium). After getting two outs, he injured his right leg when he threw a 154 km/h fastball for strike on his first pitch to hitter Tatsumi.

He was forced to leave the game and underwent an examination at a hospital in Sapporo that same day, where he was diagnosed. This was a painful absence for both the team and the player.