Shinji Kurano

Shinji Kurano
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 94
Pitcher / Coach
Born: (1974-09-15) September 15, 1974 (age 50)
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 record19-9
Saves1
ERA4.59
Strikeouts176
Teams
As player

As coach

Career highlights and awards
Last updated on: 5 December 2023

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.

Early baseball career

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

Active player era

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

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

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.


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