Shosei Togo to return to Yomiuri Giants lineup after injury

Yomiuri Giants ace pitcher Shosei Togo is set to return to first-team action on September 1 against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Kyocera Dome. This marks his return after a 56-day absence due to a left hamstring muscle strain sustained on July 7.

Togo expressed strong determination despite the Giants losing their ability to win the league title independently following a three-game sweep by the Hanshin Tigers. With the gap between the teams widening to 4.5 games, Togo emphasized a refusal to give up, stating, “If you give up, it’s over.”

During his rehabilitation, Togo worked closely with trainers to accelerate his recovery schedule. He recently completed a minor league appearance against the Chunichi Dragons, pitching four scoreless innings with one hit and four strikeouts. He noted that the period of injury allowed him to focus on improving his running form and physical strength.