Overview
- Nippon Professional Baseball said umpire Takuto Kawakami was moved from intensive care to a general ward after emergency surgery for a head injury.
- He has not regained consciousness, according to media reports citing the league’s update.
- The injury occurred at Tokyo’s Jingu Stadium when Yakult Swallows batter José Osuna lost his bat on a swing and it struck Kawakami’s temple.
- Kawakami, 30, was serving as the home-plate umpire for a Yakult versus DeNA BayStars game when he collapsed and was taken to a hospital.
- A general ward typically supports longer recovery once constant ICU monitoring eases, and the league indicated it will continue to share updates.