Former Dodger Takashi Saito can't locate parents following quake

Former Dodger pitcher Takashi Saito has been granted an indefinite leave of absence by the Milwaukee Brewers to deal with personal issues following the deadly earthquake that rocked Japan on Friday.

Brewers officials said Saito has talked by phone to his wife and three children in Japan but he has been unable to reach his parents. Saito was born and attended school in Sendai, the Japanese city closest to the epicenter of the magnitude 8.9 earthquake

A number of teammates, including first baseman Prince Fielder, approached Saito and encouraged him to leave camp for as long as he needs to be away, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.

-- Kevin Baxter in Tempe, Ariz.

Photo: Takashi Saito. Credit: Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press