Yoshihisa Hirano (baseball)

The Orix Buffaloes selected him with the first overall selection in the 2005 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

On December 22, 2017, Hirano agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[7] 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.

Hirano agreed to a one-year, $1.6M contract with the Seattle Mariners on January 30, 2020.[8] On July 14, 2020, Hirano mentioned that he had tested positive for COVID-19.[9] On August 22, 2020, he made his Mariners debut.[10] In 13 appearances for the Mariners in 2020, Hirano pitched to a 5.84 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 12.1 innings pitched.[11] On October 28, 2020, Hirano became a free agent.[12]

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.[13] On February 10, 2021, he held press conference.[14]