Yoshitomo Tani (谷 佳知, born February 9, 1973) is a former Japanese professional baseball player from Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan. He played as an outfielder for the Orix Buffaloes and Yomiuri Giants. He holds the Pacific League record for hits in a single season by a right-handed batter with 189 hits in 2003 for Orix. He also holds the Japanese NPB record for doubles in a single season with 52 in 2001.

Yoshitomo Tani
Outfielder
Born: (1973-02-09) February 9, 1973 (age 51)
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
May 11, 1997, for the Orix BlueWave
Career statistics
(through 2015)
Batting average.301
Home runs133
Runs batted in741
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Japan
Men's Baseball
Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place Atlanta 1996 Team Competition
Bronze medal – third place Athens 2004 Team Competition
Asian Baseball Championship
Gold medal – first place Kurashiki 1995 Team Competition
Gold medal – first place Sapporo 2003 Team Competition
Intercontinental Cup
Silver medal – second place Havana 1995 Team Competition

Tani emerged as a recurrent Best Nine award winner in the late 90s and early 2000s for Orix, and played a large role in carrying the Blue Wave/Buffaloes following Ichiro Suzuki's departure to play with the Seattle Mariners in MLB

Biography

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Tani is married to Ryoko Tani, a famous judoka who has won two gold medals, two silver medals and the bronze in Judo at the Summer Olympics.

He was selected for the Japanese baseball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and won a bronze medal. He also won a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics before entering the Japanese professional leagues.

Career Awards

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  • Most league steals 2002 (43)
  • Most league hits 2003 (189)
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