Chikara Onodera

Chikara Onodera (小野寺 力)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 203 lb.

• School Tokiwa University
• High School Konosu High School

• Born November 26, 1980 in Kumagaya, Saitama Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Chikara Onodera is a pitcher for the Seibu Lions. He throws a forkball and a fastball timed as fast as 95 mph. He is the brother of Minoru Shindo.

Onodera was a 4th-round pick of the Seibu Lions in the 2002 NPB draft out of college. In 2003, he allowed 7 hits, 4 walks and 4 runs in 3 1/3 IP in his Nippon Pro Baseball debut. In 2004, Chikara went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He allowed 3 runs in 3 innings in the 2004 Japan Series. The next year, Onodera was 1-2 with a 4.29 ERA.

In 2006, Onodera replaced Kiyoshi Toyoda as Seibu's closer as Toyoda had been traded away. He did very well in the role, going 7-3 with 29 saves and a 2.82 ERA; in 61 innings, he gave up only two home runs. He tied Takahiro Mahara for third in the Pacific League in saves, trailing Micheal Nakamura and Masahide Kobayashi.

The right-hander slumped in 2007, with a 4-5, 5.18 record and 13 saves. He allowed 85 hits and 23 walks in 64 1/3 innings. Alex Graman replaced him as closer and was marginally better, though Graman would star in 2008.

In 2008, Onodera went 5-5 with a save and a 3.56 ERA in 50 games.

Sources

• Japan Baseball Daily by Gary Garland
• Japanesebaseball.com by Michael Westbay
• Japanese Wikipedia entry

Related Sites

• Onodera's Official site