Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks center fielder Yuki Yanagita, out for six weeks with a fractured finger, was deactivated by the Pacific League club on Friday. Interleague-series MVP Ryuma Kidokoro replaced him on the active roster.

On Thursday, Yanagita broke the fourth finger on his right hand when the ball struck him as he slid in to catch a blooper in the third inning of the Hawks' 9-2 win over the Seibu Lions.

Yanagita, who said the finger is blue and badly swollen, will join rehabbing players on Sunday and vowed to make a swift return with the PL-leading Hawks all but certain to make the post-season Climax Series by finishing in the top three in the standings.

"Appearing there will be the minimum I'll aim for," said the 27-year-old, who is batting .306 with 18 home runs and 73 RBIs this year. "The earlier the better (to make a comeback) but you can never know how long it might take. I'll just concentrate on what I can do."

Manager Kimiyasu Kudo said he told Yanagita to "recover quick, try to be back in 10 days (when players can be reregistered)."

Yanagita hit .363 with 34 homers and 32 stolen bases to win the PL MVP last season.