The San Diego Padres announced Sunday they have called up Kazuhisa Makita from the minors again after sending the Japanese submarine right-hander down for the second time earlier this month.
The 33-year-old reliever, who moved to the majors on a two-year deal over the winter, was optioned to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas again after going 0-1 in 19 games with a 6.55 ERA.
Makita was the closer for the Japanese national team at the World Baseball Classic last spring, and went 53-49 with 25 saves in seven seasons with the Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Among other Japanese pitchers, right-hander Yu Darvish will make a rehab start Monday for the Chicago Cubs' Class A affiliate in South Bend, Indiana. The starter has been on the disabled list since May 23 with right triceps tendinitis.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon estimated that Darvish would throw four to five innings and as many as 75 pitches, but said they will "play that one by ear," according to MLB.com.
Darvish said he felt "really good" after a 31-pitch workout on June 13, but that he intends to work through his injury slowly, following his experience with a similar injury in 2015 when he was laid out for the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
New York Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka, who went on the disabled list on June 9 with mild strains in both hamstrings, threw a vigorous 26-pitch bullpen session Sunday and will be reassessed after throwing another one on Tuesday.
"I threw hard without any problems, so that's really good. I'm just thinking about getting better and making a strong return," Tanaka said.
