Baseball star Yamakawa suspended indefinitely over alleged rape case

The Seibu Lions baseball club announced an indefinite suspension Monday for infielder Hotaka Yamakawa after Tokyo prosecutors decided not to indict him over an allegation of rape due to insufficient evidence.

The 31-year-old, a three-time Pacific League home run leader and member of Japan’s 2023 World Baseball Classic-winning team, was referred to prosecutors for allegedly raping a female acquaintance at a Tokyo hotel last November.

The prosecutors decided to drop the case last Tuesday.

“We take this situation very gravely and have punished the individual in order to encourage him to do some s...