Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters right-hander Hisashi Takeda will undergo surgery to repair meniscus damage in his right knee on Aug. 31 in Sapporo and will aim to return to action some time next season, the Pacific League club said Sunday.
The 36-year-old Takeda, who has 167 saves in 522 career games, had surgery on the meniscus in his left knee prior to opening day and this will be the first season since he joined the club in 2003 that he will not take the mound for the first team.
Takeda is said to have been dealing with pain in his right knee since he turned pro out of the corporate leagues as a fourth-round draft pick in 2002.
"I'm not going to be able to pitch this season, but I want to have this done right and rehab completely so I can pitch next season," Takeda said in a comment released by the team.