Taishi Hirooka Explained

Taishi Hirooka
Position:Infielder/Outfielder
Team:Orix Buffaloes
Number:30
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:9 April 1997
Birth Place:Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan
Debutleague:NPB
Debutdate:September 29
Debutyear:2016
Debutteam:Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Statyear:2023 season
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.206
Stat2label:Hits
Stat2value:154
Stat3label:Home runs
Stat3value:28
Stat4label:Runs batted in
Stat4value:84
Stat5label:Stolen bases
Stat5value:8
Teams:

is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in NPB for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and Yomiuri Giants.

Professional career

Tokyo Yakult Swallows

On October 22, 2015, Hirooka was drafted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the 2015 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

On September 29, 2016, Hirooka debuted in the Central League against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and recorded his first Home run.[2]

In 2016 - 2020 season, he recorded in 236 games with a batting average of .214, a 21 home runs, a RBI of 54.

Yomiuri Giants

On March 1, 2021, Hirooka was traded to the Yomiuri Giants.[3] Hirooka played in 78 games for Yomiuri, hitting .189/.256/.387 with 5 home runs and 15 RBI. In 2022, Hirooka played in only 28 games for the Giants, struggling to a .180/.293/.280 slash line with no home runs and 4 RBI.[4]

Orix Buffaloes

On May 17, 2023, Hirooka was traded to the Orix Buffaloes in exchange for Kohei Suzuki (K–Suzuki).

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sports Nippon baseball news (Japanese) ヤクルト 2位指名の智弁学園高・広岡と合意. ja-JP. Sports Nippon. November 8, 2015. April 12, 2021.
  2. Web site: Sports Nippon baseball news (Japanese) ヤクルトの新人・広岡 初打席で三浦から本塁打. ja-JP. Sports Nippon. September 29, 2016. April 12, 2021.
  3. Web site: Sankei Sports baseball news (Japanese) 巨人・田口とヤクルト・広岡のトレードが決定. ja-JP. Sankei Sports. March 1, 2021. April 12, 2021.
  4. Web site: Taishi Hirooka Japanese Leagues Statistics. 2023-05-18. baseball-reference.com. en.