Yoshiju Hirano. (Taken from ORIX official social media X)
[Reporter Lin Youchen/Comprehensive Report] Today is the first time in Orix’s Taiwanese pitcher Chen Muheng’s career as a first-place pitcher. It is also the retirement of the team’s 42-year-old senior player Yoshihisa Hirano. Yoshihisa Hirano held a retirement press conference before the game against SoftBank and officially announced his farewell to his professional baseball career after the end of this season.
Yoshihisa Hirano, who has spent 21 years in professional baseball and once went to the United States to challenge the major leagues, said that he "has exceeded expectations" and admitted that the biggest reason for his decision to retire was that he believed that he could no longer contribute to the team's strength.
Yoshihisa Hirano said at the meeting: "These 21 years have really come to an end. I feel that I have gone step by step along the way and have exceeded expectations." He also expressed his gratitude to the team, fans and media, "I have received a lot of care from everyone in the past 21 years. Thank you very much."
Talking about his decision to retire, Yoshihisa Hirano said frankly that the reason was simple, "It was that he could no longer become a combat force. This was the main reason." In addition, a strain on the back of his right thigh also became a factor that prompted him to make up his mind. After the injury, he felt that "maybe he really couldn't make it", which allowed him to simply accept the fact of retirement.
Yoshihisa Hirano's 21-year professional baseball career began with ORIX. During this period, he went to the United States to challenge the major leagues. After playing for the Diamondbacks for three seasons, he returned to ORIX again. Talking about the most unforgettable moment in his career, Hirano believes that it is the first season after returning to Japan from the United States in 2021. "Being able to win the championship that year is the most unforgettable moment for me."
After Yoshiju Hirano returned to Japan, Orix created a rare three consecutive championships in team history. He said that this was not accomplished by himself alone, but also with the support of his teammates, the team and many people. "If I have contributed to the three consecutive championships, I am really glad to have come back. And to be able to complete the three consecutive championships, a certain part of my life has also been redeemed."
Talking about the joy of relief pitching, Hirano said: "Because most of the time I get on the plate in games where the team is leading, the most important thing is that the team wins. That's it. Being able to contribute to the team's victory is the most important thing."
Yoshihisa Hirano reached 350 career saves last year and 1,000 strikeouts in his career this year. He said: "It seems a bit strange to say that I don't care about these records at all, but I really feel that I am healthy enough, so it is definitely not just about my strength. I want to thank everyone."
Speaking of ORIX, Yoshihisa Hirano is also full of gratitude. He said that when he decided to go to the United States, the team was willing to let him take the challenge. When he returned to Japan three years later, they also opened the door to accept him. "I really only have sincere gratitude. There is nothing else I can say except thank you."
Yoshihisa Hirano said frankly that he originally planned to vote until he was 40 years old, but he did not expect that he could vote for longer. Looking back on his 21 years of professional baseball, Yoshihisa Hirano said frankly that he met many good people and relied on everyone's strength to get through these 21 years. "It is absolutely impossible for one person to do it, so the most important thing I want to say in my professional baseball career is thank you."
Yoshihisa Hirano will officially end his 21-year professional baseball career at the end of this season. Nippon has accumulated 65 wins, 258 saves and 204 relays in his professional baseball career.
