Japanese Baseball Cards: Hiroshi Kisanuki

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Hiroshi Kisanuki

Fighters pitcher Hiroshi Kisanuki announced his retirement back at the end of September. Kisanuki was originally signed by the Yomiuri Giants back in 2002 out of Asia University - I'm not entirely sure but it appears there was some sort of "free acquisition frame" during the 2002 draft. He went 10-7 for the Giants that season with a 3.34 ERA and 180 strikeouts (in 175 innings) and was named Rookie Of The Year (as well as making the All Star team). He topped off that rookie season by playing for the Japanese National Team in the Asian Games that November. His numbers declined after that season and he had some shoulder injuries as well. He was traded to Orix for Yasunori Takagi following the 2009 season. He rebounded somewhat in 2010, going 10-12 and making his second All Star team. He pitched fairly effectively for Orix before they traded him to the Fighters in early 2013 as part of the Yoshio Itoi deal. He went 9-8 in 2013 and made his third All Star team (he made the All Star team in his first year with each of the three teams he played for). He spent most of 2014 and 2015 with the Fighter's farm team.