:Yoshihisa Hirano (baseball)

File:平野佳壽.jpg

The Orix Buffaloes selected him with the first overall selection in the 2005 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.{{cite web| url=https://draft.npb.jp/draft/2005/draftlist_bs.html | title=オリックス・バファローズ 選択選手一覧 | language=Japanese | work=NPB.jp 日本野球機構 | accessdate=February 14, 2021 }} Hirano made his professional debut in 2006, pitching {{fraction|172|1|3}} 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 {{fraction|80|2|3}} innings of work. He continued his success in 2011, logging a 6–2 record and 1.94 ERA in {{fraction|83|2|3}} innings of work. He also won NPB’s best middle reliever award in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/12/22/baseball/mlb/yoshihisa-hirano-verge-signing-contract-diamondbacks-source/|title=Yoshihisa Hirano on verge of signing contract with Diamondbacks: source|date=22 December 2017|via=Japan Times Online}} 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 {{fraction|62|2|3}} 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 {{fraction|60|1|3}} 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 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hirano001yos|title = Yoshihisa Hirano Japanese Leagues Statistics & History}} 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 {{fraction|57|1|3}} innings.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-hot-stove-d-backs-reportedly-agree-to-sign-japanese-reliever-yoshihisa-hirano/|title=MLB Hot Stove: D-Backs reportedly agree to sign Japanese reliever Yoshihisa Hirano}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/12/26/baseball/mlb/veteran-reliever-yoshihisa-hirano-embraces-mindset-rookie-moves-diamondbacks/|title=Veteran reliever Yoshihisa Hirano embraces mindset of rookie as he moves to Diamondbacks|date=26 December 2017|via=Japan Times Online}}

File:Yoshihisa Hirano pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019 (Cropped).jpg

On December 22, 2017, Hirano agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/yoshihisa-hirano-d-backs-reach-two-year-deal/c-263926168|title=Hirano, D-backs reach two-year deal|last=Gilbert|first=Steve|work=MLB.com|date=December 22, 2017|access-date=December 22, 2017}} 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 {{frac|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.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/yoshihisa-hirano-mariners-deal|title=Mariners add late-inning option in Hirano|last=Johns|first=Greg|work=MLB.com|date=January 30, 2020|access-date=January 30, 2020}} On July 14, Hirano mentioned that he had tested positive for COVID-19.{{ cite web | url=https://this.kiji.is/655994697491661921 | title=マリナーズ平野投手がコロナ感染 | work=共同通信社 | language=ja | date=July 15, 2020 | access-date=August 24, 2020 }} On August 22, he made his Mariners debut.{{ cite web | url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/108914 | title=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 | work=中スポ 東京中日スポーツ | language=ja | date=August 23, 2020 | access-date=August 24, 2020 }} In 13 appearances for the Mariners, Hirano pitched to a 5.84 ERA with 11 strikeouts in {{fraction|12|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/yoshihisa-hirano-673633|title = Yoshihisa Hirano Stats, Fantasy & News| website=MLB.com }} On October 28, Hirano became a free agent.{{cite tweet|number=1321479139040415745|user=MLBPA_News|title=147 Players today were declared XX(B) free agents. Additional Players may become XX(B) free agents pending option d… |date=28 October 2020}}

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.{{ cite web | url=https://www.buffaloes.co.jp/news/detail/00004195.html | title=平野佳寿投手 契約合意のお知らせ | work=オリックスバファローズ オフィシャルサイト | language=ja | date=February 6, 2021 | accessdate=February 14, 2021 }}{{ cite web | url=https://www.buffaloes.co.jp/news/detail/00004209.html | title=平野佳寿投手 入団発表記者会見 | work=オリックスバファローズ オフィシャルサイト | language=ja | date=February 10, 2021 | accessdate=February 14, 2021 }}

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.

Hirano played for the Japanese National Team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/japan-sets-2017-world-baseball-classic-roster/c-215474426|title=Japan sets 2017 World Baseball Classic roster|website=MLB.com}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2017-world-baseball-classic-usa-vs-japan-final-score-usa-edges-japan-to-reach-final/|title=2017 World Baseball Classic USA vs. Japan final score: USA edges Japan to reach final}}

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{{Baseballstats |mlb=673633 |fangraphs=19756 |espn=39842 |brm=hirano001yos |br=h/hiranyo01}}

• [http://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/81285112.html NPB official site]
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{{Japan roster 2017 World Baseball Classic}}

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Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players

Category:Baseball people from Kyoto

Category:Japanese expatriate baseball players in the United States

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Major League Baseball players from Japan

Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen

Category:National baseball team players

Category:Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers

Category:Orix Buffaloes players

Category:Seattle Mariners players

Category:2017 World Baseball Classic players

Category:World Baseball Classic players of Japan