Doctors say that a Japanese player who was injured during the 37th Baseball World Cup in Taipei on Saturday may suffer impaired hearing.
Toshiyuki Hayashi, 28, a pitcher and batter, was hit by a pitch from Cuba's Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz during the 7th inning of the semi-finals at the Shinchuang Stadium outside Taipei.
He was taken off the field on a stretcher and rushed to hospital to be examined and receive treatment.
Cable TV channel ETTV showed Hayashi being rushed into the emergency section of an unidentified hospital.
Doctors said he was hit in his left ear and the ear drum has been ruptured, which may affect his hearing in future, the Japanese team's interpreter said on ETTV.
Hayashi will receive treatment in Taiwan until his team's departure. After returning to Japan, he will seek treatment in a Japanese hospital, the interpreter said.
Hayashi's was the first injury since the 37th Baseball World Cup began on Nov. 7.
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