DENVER -- Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii will not pitch again this year.

	Ishii

Ishii, hit in the head with a line drive last weekend, was released Friday from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angelos.

"Good news for everyone in this room,'' manager Jim Tracy said before Thursday night's game against Colorado.

"He is progressing the way you would want him to progress,'' Tracy said, adding: "We will not entertain the thought of pitching him the rest of this season.''

Ishii said in the statement that he was doing well.

"I am very disappointed I am not able to compete with my teammates as we close out the season,'' he said. "However, no matter where I may be, my goals and thoughts are always one with the team.''

The physician treating Ishii said he expects the pitcher to make a full recovery.

Ishii, 29, was struck by a line drive hit by Houston's Brian Hunter in the fourth inning of the Dodgers' 6-2 loss to the Astros last Sunday and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital by ambulance.

A CT scan revealed a concussion and skull fracture, and late that night Ishii was transferred to Cedars-Sinai, where Dr. John Yu performed a two-hour operation.

"Mr. Ishii has made an excellent recovery,'' Yu said Thursday. "He has no signs of infection and the bruising of his brain is improving. He is also walking well.''

Yu said Ishii will take antibiotics for a week to prevent infection.

"The staples in his scalp will be removed next week,'' Yu said. "We will see on a day-to-day basis when he is ready for more physical activity. Judging by his steady improvement, I would anticipate a speedy recovery process.''

Ishii is 14-10 with a 4.27 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 154 innings. A 10-year veteran of the Yakult Swallows of Japan's Central League, Ishii signed a $12.3 million, four-year contract in February.