Japanese baseball authorities have introduced a new rule to penalize dangerous swings following an incident in which umpire Takuto Kawakami was seriously injured. The injury occurred when a flying bat struck him during a game in Tokyo.

Kawakami has remained unconscious for nearly a month since the incident, prompting officials to take action to improve on-field safety. The new rule aims to deter unsafe batting practices and prevent similar accidents in the future.

Sources: https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/3253864/japan-baseball-to-punish-dangerous-swings-after-umpire-hit