Akikazu Nishimoto

Akikazu Nishimoto (西本 明和)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 176 lb.

• High School Matsuyama Commercial High School

• Born October 11, 1948 in Matsuyama, Ehime Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

The brother of star pitcher Takashi Nishimoto, Akikazu Nishimoto played for several years in Nippon Pro Baseball. Unlike his undrafted brother, he went in the first round of the 1966 NPB draft's secondary phase to the Hiroshima Carp. As a rookie in 1967, he allowed three runs in five innings. He had a 1-0, 3.12 record in three games in 1968. In April 1968, he was injured in an auto accident and spent two months in a hospital. After the season ended, he was injured in another car accident.

Nishimoto pitched 25 games in 1969, going 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA to finish with a 6-3, 4.32 career record. Having gone 8 for 38 with a double at the plate, he was moved to the infield in 1970. In 57 games (118 plate appearances), he hit .163/.256/.260 with one steal in five tries and 39 K in 104 at-bats. He was 1 for 4 with a double in 1971 and batted .184/.288/.272 in 55 games as a bench player in 1972. He had a career line of .181/.269/.265.

Nishimoto had a liver problem that caused him to retire in 1973. He wound up being hospitalized for three years. He recuperated and went into the restaurant business in his hometown.

Source: Japanbaseballdaily