Wife Of Reds OF Shogo Akiyama Recovering Following Tree Accident

Cincinnati Reds second-year outfielder Shogo Akiyama is back with the team after a scary incident involving his wife last week.

Akaya Akiyama, the wife of the Reds outfielder, was walking in Sharon Woods in Cincinnati when a tree fell on top of her, causing serious injuries.

Shogo left the Reds spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona right away, but today he rejoined the team as his wife is making great strides in her recovery.

He spent most of the week with her in the hospital.

“I was in the hospital with her, I was spending time with (the) kids,” Akiyama said through team interpreter Luke Shinoda.

“I think it was the inevitable time that I needed with this week away.”

In his first season in the Queen City last year, Akiyama played in 54 games in the short season. He hit .245 with no homers and nine runs batted in.

Reds manager David Bell will likely give Akiyama until Sunday to get re-acclimated to the team and get some rest as he returns to Goodyear.

Bell told Akiyama that he would play in his first Cactus League game on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants.

One of Akiyama's teammates, Lucas Sims, spoke about how severe the incident was when it happened last week.

“When we first heard it, I know I was very concerned. Everyone was concerned,” Sims said.

“We were making sure that she was all right, and that Shogo was OK. I mean, we care about each other. That extension of wanting to make sure that he’s OK -- that’s bigger than baseball.

"Being able to see him today, it made us all happy and glad to know that she’s doing all right. Hopefully, everything gets back to normal.”