The familiar sound of a baseball game gives stadiums life. But at Belluna Dome, silence spoke a dark story on April 18. A young batter took a swing, and the result was painful agony instead of solid contact. This moment highlighted a growing crisis for his team. They are not simply competing with rivals on the field. Instead, they appear to battle a relentless wave of physical setbacks instead. It felt like a cruel twist of fate for the defending champions aiming for another title.

The decisive moment arrived in the fifth inning on April 18, 2025, against the Saitama Seibu Lions. The young slugger Tomoya Masaki was up against a quick delivery and took a swing. His bat missed the ball, and suddenly crumpled near home plate, clutching his left arm immediately. Yakyu Cosmopolitan tweeted about the frightening scene. “SoftBank’s injury woes continue. Tomoya Masaki goes down in some extreme pain on a swing.” Team officials later suspected a left shoulder subluxation. The outlook appeared serious right away. The Hawks even lost the game 1-0. They even got zero hits that night.

Now the immediate question becomes, when will this young player return? There were reports that he may have injured his left shoulder. That’s how manager Hiroki Kokubo put it immediately after the game. He said it looked “亜脱臼みたい,” meaning like a subluxation. The manager added that the outlook appeared “厳しい,” translating to serious right away. Injuries of this kind to the shoulder are unpredictable. Complete healing can take weeks or even months. The club has not offered a timetable for his return. So, for now, it’s uncertain how he might return.

Masaki’s painful injury wasn’t an isolated incident for the Hawks, though. His injury was among a long list of recently sidelined stars. Last year’s MVP, Kensuke Kondoh, underwent back surgery in early April. Franchise great Yuki Yanagita was forced out of a game after hitting his leg. Top starting pitcher Carter Stewart Jr. returned to the U.S. for treatment on a muscle strain. Run producer Ryoya Kurihara spent time on the sidelines with a rib problem. Other players, such as Ukyo Shuto, also suffered from knee issues recently. And each one of these important injuries struck the team hard in every area.

The cumulative impact of these losses is evident on the field now. The team is coming off a tough four-game losing streak. Their offense was very bad over that stretch of games. In one, they lost even after the opposing team failed to get a single hit. Losing MVP-caliber players hurts run scoring deeply right away. The team must depend on inexperienced players to step up. On April 18, the Hawks had a record of 11-7. They remained tied for first place, but rivals were closing the gap fast behind them.

How will Hawks manage Tomoya Masaki’s absence?

This painful injury knocks a developing bat out of the lineup. Before collapsing, the young outfielder showed real growth this season. He hit .259 with two home runs and eight RBIs for the team. He started every game batting fifth in the order. This consistent placement also displayed great trust and faith from the coaches. He had carried momentum from a solid showing in the Asian Winter League. Masaki was filling an important role. His presence seemed more pertinent than ever, with other stars already sidelined.

With this lack of clarity, other players need to step up quickly. Tatsuru Yanagimachi is a good bet to get more of that time now. He is a veteran utility player capable of playing the outfield defensively. They also recently added Keita Yamamoto to their roster. He offers a younger option from the developmental system, looking for a chance. It will be a challenge to replace Masaki’s bat and defense. The team needs consistent production from these fill-in players now.

For the SoftBank Hawks, winning another title looks much harder now. Now the question is: Can the team find a way to overcome such relentless misfortune? The rest of their season holds the crucial answer.