◆パ・リーグ　日本ハム―ソフトバンク（１９日・エスコンフィールド）

Nippon Nippon-Ham Fighters pitcher Kenta Uehara, who had been sidelined due to a hamstring injury in his right thigh, has returned to the first team after about a month.

Uehara left the pitch on May 20 against Rakuten Eagles (at Escon Stadium) after complaining of discomfort in his right hamstring. He was diagnosed with a "right hamstring strain" and it was announced that he would be out for 2 to 4 weeks before returning to the game.

He pitched in three games in the minor leagues. "I think I was able to do what I could and make good progress. The pain was gone in about three days, so I was already running, and I didn't feel like I was out of action," he said, emphasizing his smooth recovery.

During his absence, the team performed well, achieving a 14-4 record in interleague play. The relief pitchers, in particular, stood out, and he commented, "The relief pitchers were really stable, and I felt there was no way for me to move up. I thought the only way to move up was to make an impression in the farm league and get results, so I put my heart into it while I was there, and although I got injured, I had a good time."