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Yoshihisa Hirano
Hirano with the Orix Buffaloes in 2021
Orix Buffaloes – No. 16
Pitcher
Born: (1984-03-08) March 8, 1984 (age 40) Kyoto, Japan
Bats: RightThrows: Right
Professional debut
NPB: March 26, 2006, for the Orix Buffaloes
MLB: March 29, 2018, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
NPB statistics (through 2024 season)
Win–loss record	56-77
Earned run average	2.95
Strikeouts	998
Saves	249
MLB statistics (through 2020 season)
Win–loss record	9–9
Earned run average	3.69
Strikeouts	131
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Orix Buffaloes (2006–2007, 2009–2017) Arizona Diamondbacks (2018–2019) Seattle Mariners (2020) Orix Buffaloes (2021-present)
Career highlights and awards
NPB 5× All-Star (2006, 2010–2013) Pacific League Saves Leader (2014) Middle Reliever of the Year (2011) Japan Series Champion (2022) 250 saves (2023) Meikyukai Member (on 2023)

Yoshihisa Hirano (平野 佳寿, Hirano Yoshihisa) (born March 8, 1984) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Buffaloes from 2006 to 2007, 2009 to 2017, and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018 and 2019, and the Seattle Mariners in 2020 in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Hirano is a right-handed pitcher with a three-quarters delivery. As a reliever, he throws a fastball topping out at mid-90s and a forkball as his primary pitches.

Career

Orix Buffaloes

The Orix Buffaloes selected him with the first overall selection in the 2005 Nippon Professional Baseball draft. Hirano made his professional debut in 2006, pitching 172.1 innings of 3.81 ERA ball. The next year, Hirano logged an 8-13 record and 3.72 ERA in 27 appearances with the team. In 2008, Hirano did not make an appearance with the major club, pitching in 6 games for Orix's minor league club. He returned to Orix in 2009, pitching to a 3–12 record and 4.72 ERA in 20 appearances. In 2010, Hirano improved on his performance from the previous year, recording a stellar 7–2 record and 1.67 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 80.2 innings of work. He continued his success in 2011, logging a 6–2 record and 1.94 ERA in 83.2 innings of work. He also won NPB’s best middle reliever award in 2011. His fine work continued in 2012, with an ERA of 2.15 paired with a record of 7–4 in 70 appearances. Hirano carried his success into 2013 as well, pitching to a 1.87 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched for Orix. He was not as successful in 2014, but still had a solid year, registering a 3.43 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched. Hirano also led the Pacific League in 2014 in saves, with 40. In 2015, Hirano posted a 3.82 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 33.0 innings across 33 appearances for the team. In 2016, Hirano had a strong year, posting a 4–4 record and 1.92 ERA in 58 appearances for Orix. During the 2017 season, his last before signing with a Major League Baseball team, the right-handed Hirano saved 29 games and pitched to a 2.67 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings.

Hirano pitched 12 seasons of professional ball in Japan with Orix. He became a full-time reliever in 2010 and was the Buffaloes closer from 2012–2017. In his time with the Buffaloes, he recorded a total of 156 saves.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 22, 2017, Hirano agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his first season with Arizona, Hirano finished with a record of 4–3 with a 2.44 ERA in 75 appearances. He collected 3 saves in 66+1⁄3 innings. In 2019, Hirano could not replicate his success, posting a less appealing 5-5 record and 4.75 ERA across 62 contests.

Seattle Mariners

Hirano agreed to a one-year, $1.6M contract with the Seattle Mariners on January 30, 2020. On July 14, 2020, Hirano mentioned that he had tested positive for COVID-19. On August 22, 2020, he made his Mariners debut. In 13 appearances for the Mariners in 2020, Hirano pitched to a 5.84 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 12.1 innings pitched. On October 28, 2020, Hirano became a free agent.

Orix Buffaloes (second stint)

On February 6, 2021, Hirano signed a one-year, $1.4MM contract to return to the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, the team with which he had begun his career and pitched for from 2005 to 2017. On February 10, 2021, he held a press conference.

On October 2, 2023, he recorded his 250th save combined between his time in Japan and the USA. He became the 4th pitcher to reach over 250 saves, after Hitoki Iwase, Shingo Takatsu and Kazuhiro Sasaki.

International career

Hirano played for the Japanese National Team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. After advancing to the championship round, Japan lost to the United States 2–1 in the semifinal, finishing the tournament in third place. Hirano earned a bronze medal for his performance in the games.

References

1. "Yoshihisa Hirano finding how his pieces fit in major league puzzle". March 29, 2018.
2. "オリックス・バファローズ 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved February 14, 2021.
3. "Yoshihisa Hirano on verge of signing contract with Diamondbacks: source". December 22, 2017 – via Japan Times Online.
4. "Yoshihisa Hirano Japanese Leagues Statistics & History".
5. "MLB Hot Stove: D-Backs reportedly agree to sign Japanese reliever Yoshihisa Hirano".
6. "Veteran reliever Yoshihisa Hirano embraces mindset of rookie as he moves to Diamondbacks". December 26, 2017 – via Japan Times Online.
7. Gilbert, Steve (December 22, 2017). "Hirano, D-backs reach two-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
8. Johns, Greg (January 30, 2020). "Mariners add late-inning option in Hirano". MLB.com. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
9. "マリナーズ平野投手がコロナ感染". 共同通信社 (in Japanese). July 15, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
10. "ヨシハサ？ ハラノ？ マリナーズ平野がコロナ復帰、新天地デビュー1イニング無失点2奪三振". 中スポ 東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). August 23, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
11. "Yoshihisa Hirano Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
12. @MLBPA_News (October 28, 2020). "147 Players today were declared XX(B) free agents. Additional Players may become XX(B) free agents pending option d…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. "平野佳寿投手 契約合意のお知らせ". オリックスバファローズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
14. "平野佳寿投手 入団発表記者会見". オリックスバファローズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
15. "Japan sets 2017 World Baseball Classic roster". MLB.com.
16. "2017 World Baseball Classic USA vs. Japan final score: USA edges Japan to reach final".

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• NPB official site
• Yoshihisa Hirano on Instagram

• 1984 births
• Living people
• Arizona Diamondbacks players
• Baseball people from Kyoto
• Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States
• Major League Baseball pitchers
• Major League Baseball players from Japan
• National baseball team players
• Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers
• Orix Buffaloes players
• Seattle Mariners players
• 2017 World Baseball Classic players
• World Baseball Classic players of Japan