Shinji Kurano
Shinji Kurano (倉野 信次, Kurano Shinji, born September 15, 1974 in Obata, Mie, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, and current the first squad Pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
| Shinji Kurano | |
|---|---|
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 94 | |
| Pitcher / Coach | |
| Born: September 15, 1974 Obata, Mie, Japan | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| NPB debut | |
| April 10, 1997, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| Last NPB appearance | |
| May 20, 2006, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| NPB statistics (through 2007) | |
| Win–loss record | 19-9 |
| Saves | 1 |
| ERA | 4.59 |
| Strikeouts | 176 |
| Teams | |
| As player As coach
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Last updated on: 5 December 2023 | |
Early baseball career edit
Kurano went on to Aoyama Gakuin University, where he won the 1996 Japan National Collegiate Baseball Championship with classmates Tadahito Iguchi, Masaumi Shimizu, and Toshikazu Sawazaki. They also defeated Sumitomo Metal Industries, a corporate baseball club, in the 1996 All-Japan Amateur Baseball Championship in their senior year.[1]
Professional career edit
Active player era edit
On November 21, 1996, Kurano was drafted fourth round pick by the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in the 1996 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2]
Kurano pitched in 164 games in 11 seasons with the Hawks, posting a record of 19 wins, 9 losses, and one save.[2]
After retirement edit
Kurano worked as a team staff member for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and served as their pitching coach from 2009 to the 2021 season.[2]
He received coaching training for the Texas Rangers in 2A and 3A during the 2022 season, and served as a coach for the 2023 season.[2][3]
On October 31, 2023, Kurano again served as the first squad pitching coach of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.[4]
References edit
- ^ "Weekly Baseball online News & Column 小久保氏と井口監督、母校に帰る。黄金時代・青学大の思い出とは？". Weekly Baseball online (in Japanese). December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Sports Nippon baseball news 「魔改造」元ソフトBコーチ・倉野信次さんが自費米留学で見た世界 "涙した"忘れられない苦労話も". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ "Sports Nippon baseball news ソフトバンク元投手コーチ・倉野信次氏 レンジャーズで待望の育成コーチ「やっと伝えられる立場に」". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). February 24, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks press release 2023年10月31日 新入団コーチのお知らせ". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). October 31, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
External links edit
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Career statistics - NPB.jp (in Japanese)
- 94 Shinji Kurano PLAYERS2024 - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site