Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks infielder Kenta Imamiya will be sidelined for three months after undergoing right-elbow surgery, the Pacific League club announced Friday.
The 25-year-old, who batted .245 with 10 home runs and 56 RBIs during the regular season, had loose fragments removed from the joint and is expected to be ready for the start of next season.
Imamiya has won the Golden Glove the past three seasons at shortstop, awarded to a player in each position in both the PL and the Central League.