Hiroyuki Oze (小瀬 浩之, Oze Hiroyuki, September 2, 1985 – February 5, 2010) was a Japanese baseball outfielder from Daitō, Osaka who played professionally for the Orix Buffaloes. He played two seasons for the club, hitting .262 in his rookie year in 2008[1] and .303 in 2009, his final professional season.[2] Before joining the Buffaloes, he played at Jinsei Gakuen High School and Kinki University, where he was drafted in 2007.[2] Oze received the memorable nickname "José" from Orix alum Ichiro Suzuki during the latter's visit to Buffaloes spring training.

Hiroyuki Oze
Oze in 2008
Outfielder
Born: (1985-09-02)September 2, 1985
Daitō, Osaka, Japan
Died: February 5, 2010(2010-02-05) (aged 24)
Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
NPB debut
July 15, 2008, for the Orix Buffaloes
Last appearance
October 9, 2009, for the Orix Buffaloes
Career statistics
Batting average.287
Stolen bases14
Runs batted in30
Hits94
Teams

Oze died on February 5, 2010, in an apparent suicide by jumping from the tenth floor of his hotel during spring training in Miyakojima, Okinawa.[2]

References

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