Orix Buffaloes ・ It was revealed on the 8th that Yoshihisa Hirano pitcher, who also serves as a coach for pitcher (age 42), will retire from active play at the end of this season. He has already communicated his decision, and the team has respected the decision of this veteran player. His retirement has been officially approved, and the announcement is scheduled for today, the 9th.In 2023, Orix Buffaloes, he became the first player to be inducted into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame, and his combined total of 250 saves and 200 hold across Japan and the U.S. is an unprecedented record. This legendary closer, who has charted a one-of-a-kind career, will bring his 18-year tenure with Orix Buffaloes and his 21-year professional baseball career to a close.

Orix Buffaloes ・Hirano has decided to retire. At 42, he is the oldest player on the team: Pacific League pitcher. pitcher He began this season serving as both a player and a coach, and on March 29, in the game against Rakuten Eagles (at Kyocera D), he reached his 1,000th career strike out.Becoming the first player in history to achieve both 250 saves and 1,000 is a historic feat. However, he was removed from the active roster on April 16 and has appeared in only two games so far this season.

Even last year, when he became only the fourth player in NPB history to reach 250 career saves, he only made three appearances in the first team. He was conscious of when to retire. His last appearance on mound was on July 9th in a farm league game against Softbank Hawks (at Mizuho PayPay Dome). In fact, he had suffered a hamstring injury in his right thigh. In recent years, he had been battling problems with his right elbow and lower back, but this was his first hamstring injury. As an active pitcher, his mindset has changed significantly.

"Basically, I've always pitched in games where the first team was winning. But that's gradually becoming less and less possible, and I'm wondering if it's okay for me to be taking up one of pitcher spots... I do think about that sometimes." In the farm system, he coaches young players aiming for the first team or to be registered as a regular player. There was a time when he calmly accepted the reality and confided his feelings.

He made up his mind in late July. It was a decision made during the season when the team was competing for a playoff spot. He conveyed his thoughts to General Manager Fukura, whom he respects, and to Manager Kishida, a close friend who was two years older and in the same draft class as him in 2005.

In his rookie year in 2006, he was a starting pitcher. After overcoming right elbow surgery and reflux esophagitis, his fifth year as a professional, 2010, became a turning point. It was then-manager Akinobu Okada who paved the way for him to become a relief pitcher, saying, "He's young and his pitches have power. He can do it." The following year, in 2011, he was named the best reliever, and in 2014, he was named the saves leader, accumulating a wealth of experience.

He was called up to the Japanese national team for the 2017 WBC as an additional player. He made a name for himself on the international stage for the first time and pitched in 150 games in Major League Baseball over three years. He returned to Orix Buffaloes in 2021 and contributed to their three consecutive league championships as their undisputed closer. His greatest motivation was to repay the kindness of his former team, who had always looked out for him during his time in the US, telling him, "We'll be waiting for you. Come back anytime."

He became the first Orix Buffaloes player to be inducted into the Meikyukai (Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame), with a career total of 852 games played in Japan and the US, 258 saves, and 205 hold. The team plans to prepare a retirement game for the long-serving player who has come up through the ranks of the organization, and Hirano himself intends to dedicate himself fully to the remainder of the season as both pitcher and pitcher coach. He made his way through 21 years with his consistently 150 km/h fastball and his prized fork. He will end his long and fulfilling professional baseball career while staying true to his motto, "Give it your all."

◆Yoshihisa Hirano: Born March 8, 1984, in Kyoto Prefecture. Age 42. After graduating from Toba High School in Kyoto and Kyoto Sangyo University, he joined Orix Buffaloes in 2005 through the university/corporate league draft. He won the Best reliever in 2011 and the Most Saves title in 2014. In the offseason of 2017, he exercised his overseas free agency rights. After playing for the Diamondbacks and Mariners, he returned to Orix Buffaloes in 2021. In 2023, he achieved 250 saves in his combined career in Japan and the US, and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. His motto is "Give it your all." 186 cm, 90 kg. Right-handed pitcher and batter.