The Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s professional baseball (NPB) are in a state of emergency.

Sports Hochi, a Japanese media outlet, reported on Tuesday that American Yomiuri Giants pitcher Foster Griffin has been removed from the roster. He was diagnosed with muscle damage in his right abdominal muscle. Griffin won the game against the Hanshin Tigers on April 30, his first appearance of the season, by allowing no runs in 6 1/3 innings.

However, in the match against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on Tuesday, he allowed two runs in four innings before being replaced (62 pitches). His fastball speed remained at around 140 kilometers per hour, and his left side was even seen uncomfortable, which raised concerns. He did not attend the team’s training on Tuesday, and was in the middle of the team’s roster.

Griffin’s departure in his second year with the NPB is painful. Prior to the injury, Griffin had an ERA of 0.87 (10 1/3 innings) in two games. He was one of the triangular formations that led the Yomiuri Giants’ starting lineup along with Ray Takahashi (1 win, 0 ERA) and Shosei Dogo (1 win, 1 loss, 1.38 ERA).

Griffin was a former promising player who was drafted 28th in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Rookie Draft (Kansas City Royals). Since his debut in 2020, he has played eight innings in seven games as a bullpen. In the Minor League, he played for eight seasons and recorded 49 wins and 50 losses with an ERA of 4.54.

In January last year, he signed a contract with the Yomiuri Giants and made a soft landing with six wins and five losses and an earned run average of 2.75 (121 innings) in his first season. His NPB record stands at seven wins and five losses with an earned run average of 2.60. Sports Hochi said that Poster will continue treatment and adjustment on the injured list.

BY: 스포츠토토핫