Taishi Hirooka (廣岡 大志, Hirooka Taishi, born April 9, 1997) 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.

Taishi Hirooka
Hirooka with the Orix Buffaloes
Orix Buffaloes – No. 30
Infielder/Outfielder
Born: (1997-04-09) April 9, 1997 (age 27)
Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
September 29, 2016, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Career statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.206
Hits154
Home runs28
Runs batted in84
Stolen bases8
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
U-23 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2016, Monterrey, Mexico Team

Professional career

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Tokyo Yakult Swallows

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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

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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

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

References

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  1. ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news (Japanese) ヤクルト 2位指名の智弁学園高・広岡と合意". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). November 8, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "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". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). September 29, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sankei Sports baseball news (Japanese) 巨人・田口とヤクルト・広岡のトレードが決定". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). March 1, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "Taishi Hirooka Japanese Leagues Statistics". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
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