Softbank Hawks 'Hotaka Yamakawa was removed from the active roster for the first time this season on the 1st.

In 2014, he hit nine Home Run runs, tying for third in the league, but his batting average was a disappointing .175. He also experienced a career-worst 31 consecutive at-bats without hit from April 19 against Orix Buffaloes (Mizuho PayPay Dome) to May 2 against Rakuten Eagles (Mizuho PayPay Dome). He did manage to hit two consecutive Home Run in the game against Lotte on May 9 (Mizuho PayPay Dome), but he was never fully recovered after that.

Masaki, who bats first in the lineup for the team, is in good form. He was promoted to the first team for the first time this season in the game Rakuten Eagles on the 15th (Rakuten Eagles Mobile), and has posted excellent results with a batting average of .357, 3 Home Run, and 10 RBI. He has been getting many opportunities to starting line-up at first base, which has meant that Yamakawa has been starting more games on the bench.

This marks the second time he's been removed from the roster since transferring teams, the first being in June of last season. The slugger, with a career total of 284 Home Run, will be looking to make a comeback from Chikugo.