Yokohama BayStars cleanup hitter Yoshitomo Tsutsugo was deactivated on Friday due to a muscle strain, the Central League club said.
Tsutsugo, who left Thursday's game against the Chunichi Dragons early, is expected back in a minimum of 10 days. According to manager Alex Ramirez, the outfielder felt pain in his right obliques when missing a curveball in his first at-bat on Thursday.
Entering Friday's games, the 24-year-old was tied for the CL lead in home runs with eight.