*This content was translated by AI.
The Japanese archipelago was shocked when an active player of the Japanese professional baseball (NPB) was arrested by police for administering a banned drug called "zombie cigarettes."
Multiple Japanese media, including Sports Hochi, said in unison on the 27th that Hiroshima Prefectural Police arrested Ryutaro Hatsuki (25), an infielder from Hiroshima Toyokaf, on charges of violating the Drugs and Medical Devices Act.
According to the report, Hatsuki is accused of administering "zombie cigarettes" containing "Etomidate," which was designated as a banned drug in Japan, around December 16 last year. Etomidate is used overseas as a whole body inducer, but in Japan, it is managed as a 'prohibited drug' due to concerns over misuse and is strictly prohibited from possession or use. In Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) designated "Etomidate" as a drug in August last year, strengthening its management.
In particular, etomidate is a dangerous drug nicknamed "zombie cigarette" because the body convulses when administered and walks like a zombie. Recently, it has rapidly spread among young people in Japan and has emerged as a social problem.
Hatsuki, who was arrested in an emergency, reportedly denies the charges altogether, saying in a police investigation that he "does not remember using them."
Hatsuki, who joined Hiroshima through the 2018 rookie draft, is a key opponent and backup infield resource in the team using his fast feet as a weapon. In particular, he played a whopping 74 games in the 2025 season and recorded a batting average of 0.295 (31 hits in 119 at-bats) and 17 steals, spending his career high season. Hatsuki, who took the first-team stage in the 2020 season, is a fast-footed player who has succeeded in 51 steals in 277 NPB games. In the 2025 season, he played second and third basemen. The annual salary for the 2026 season was 31 million yen (about 300 million won), an increase of 8 million yen (about 75 million won) compared to the 2025 season.
Based on this performance, fans are very disappointed because they were about to compete for the starting lineup in the 2026 season. The Hiroshima club has not yet made an official position, but local predictions say that heavy punishment is inevitable as an active player has been arrested on drug-related charges.
The Japanese archipelago was shocked by the news of the arrest of an active first-team professional baseball player. "I can't believe that a player who was training faithfully is involved in this," he said, expressing doubts, "Is there any other person in the team?" In particular, the news of the arrest of a player who played nearly 100 games in the first team of the previous season has led to strong follow-up measures at the NPB secretariat and the possibility of a full investigation.
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*This content was translated by AI.
