Italian right-hander Alessandro Maestri has been promoted back to Nippon Professional Baseball. He returned to the ORIX Buffaloes in a 3-6 loss to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp on Friday. He pitched the last two innings, allowing one hit and a walk, while striking out one. He has now an ERA of 2.53 in 12 games this season.
Meanwhile Dutch right-hander Rick van den Hurk is still waiting for his first NPB callup of his career. He has an ERA of 1.29 in nine starts for the farm team of the Softbank Hawks. He has struck out 63 and walked just ten in 55 2/3 innings.