Overview
- An NPB umpire, Kawakami Takuto, was hit in the head by a batter’s bat during the Yakult–DeNA game on April 16 and required emergency surgery at a hospital after being taken by ambulance.
- Kawakami was treated in an ICU after the operation and was moved to a general ward on April 30 as his recovery continued under medical care.
- On June 8 NPB published a family message saying Kawakami has not regained full consciousness but shows responses such as blinking and arm movement and that no discharge date has been set.
- Professional baseball has introduced and begun enforcing a formal ‘‘dangerous swing’’ rule to penalize mid-swing bat-throwing that could hit others and to strengthen on-field safety measures.
- The family thanked supporters and asked for continued encouragement, and the incident is likely to lead to stricter enforcement and safety practices such as helmet use for umpires and clearer disciplinary steps for risky swings.