TOKOROZAWA, SAITAMA PREF. – Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks center fielder Yuki Yanagita will be out for six weeks after fracturing his right fourth finger during their 9-2 win over the Seibu Lions on Thursday, the Pacific League club announced.
Yanagita, the Pacific League MVP last year after hitting .363 with 34 homers and 32 stolen bases, slid in to catch a blooper from Ginjiro Sumitani in the third inning, but the ball struck the finger in the process. He was replaced in the next inning.
Yanagita had five homers and 15 RBIs in his last six games before Thursday.
