Pitcher Nobuhito Morishita, who was scheduled to start the second game of the professional baseball season in Hiroshima, will avoid pitching due to tightness in his right elbow. Pitcher Morishita was scheduled to start the opening second game against DeNA to be held at Yokohama Stadium on the 30th of this month, but he did not participate in the general practice held in Hiroshima City on the 26th, and manager Takahiro Arai decided that pitcher Morishita would be the starter. It was announced that he would not be a starter for the second game of the season because he complained of tightness in his right elbow.
After having surgery on his right elbow a year ago, pitcher Morishita returned midway through last season and won nine games, second on the team, and was scheduled to be in the starting rotation from the start of this season.
However, he started the exhibition game against Softbank on the 23rd of this month and was not doing well, giving up 5 runs in 3 innings, and complained of tightness in his right elbow after pitching.
Coach Arai explained, ``He said, ``I want to go,'' but I wanted him to go on the mound in perfect condition, so I stopped him.'' Regarding the timing of his return, he said, ``We will keep an eye on the condition of his elbow.'' Therefore, I cannot say anything definite at this point."
The starting pitcher for the second game of the season, replacing pitcher Morishita, will be Takumi Kurohara, a third-year left-handed pitcher who has been pitching well in exhibition games.