Orix Yoshihisa Hirano pitcher (41) will become a coach starting next season. He had completed discussions with the team by the end of the regular season. He will be entering his 21st year as an active professional player, and at the same time, he will also work to train the next generation of players. pitcher
This season, he became the fourth player in NPB history to achieve 250 career saves in a game against Lotte Marines on April 3rd (ZOZO), but was removed from the active roster on April 11th. He was not promoted after that, and only pitched in three games for the first team. He first met with the team in late August. He was left to decide his future, but he emphasized, "There are games left for both the first and second teams. I have to do my best," and he put all his effort into fighting through the season.
He returned from the US Major Leagues in 2021, and at 41 years old, he is the oldest pitcher in Pacific League. In recent years, he has had chronic concerns about his right elbow and hips, and throughout the year he has questioned whether he can become a first-team player. In addition to his extensive career in Japan and the US, the team values him as a moral pillar. Regardless of the formality, the team had decided to renew his contract for next season.
Although he can no longer consistently reach 150 km/h, this year he has expanded the range of pitch with two seam fastball, and in 16 games in the Western League he has produced some solid results with ERA of 1.69. While Hirano himself was forced to make a difficult decision, he and the team agreed on the direction of "concurrent roles."
Recently, Nohmi (pitcher coach in 2021 and 2022) and Adachi (infield defense base running coach in 2024) have also held dual roles. Specific assignments are expected to be decided after the team's schedule is complete, with the CS starting on the 11th. Hirano is a legend, having become the first player from Orix baseball team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hirano will support his ally, manager Kishida, with his "two-way play" that only he can do.
◆Hirano Yoshihisa: Born March 8, 1984 in Kyoto Prefecture. Age 41. After graduating from Toba High School and Kyoto Sangyo University, he joined Orix through the preferred draft slot in 2005. He won the title of best reliever in 2011 and most saves in 2014. He exercised his overseas free agent rights in the offseason of 2017. After playing for the Diamondbacks and Mariners, he returned Orix in 2021. In 2023, he achieved a total of 250 saves in Japan and the US, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. His NPB career record is 56 wins, 78 losses, 250 saves, 156 hold, and ERA 2.97 in 700 games. He is 186 cm tall and weighs 88 kg. He throws and bats right-handed.
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