Source: Sponichi Annex
Hanshin infielder Kento Itohara revealed to reporters on the 20th that he has been practicing batting tennis balls off a tee at the team’s Naruohama facility since the 19th to reduce the burden on his body (which would be heavier if he hit real baseballs). “I was hoping to start batting off a tee within four weeks of the injury, so I guess I’m a little early. It hurts, but I’ve already been able to use a tee in just three weeks, so I take that as a positive.”
Itohara broke the hamate bone in his right hand on July 22 and had successful surgery to remove the bone just days later. “I am taking fielding just as I normally would, and am just working on the things that I am able to do,” he said cheerfully.
The team is 9-14-3 in his absence and has not found the right answer at second base. Today, they called up Ryuhei Obata (19) and could use him at short tonight, moving Seiya Kinami over to second base.