Hiroto Kato

Hiroto Kato (加藤 博人)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 154 lb.

• High School Yachiyo Shoin High School

• Born April 29, 1969 in Yachiyo, Chiba Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Hiroto Kato was a pitcher for ten seasons in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Undrafted out of high school, Kato signed with the Yakult Swallows. He debuted with the big club in 1989, going 6-9 with a 2.83 ERA and .225 opponent average. He was 8th in the Central League in ERA, between Naoyuki Naito and Masahiro Yamamoto. The left-hander fell to 3-8, 4.05 in 1990. On August 8, 1990, he set a CL record by hitting four batters; he led the circuit with 11 plunked batsmen for the year.

In 1991, Kato posted a 7-11, 3.96 record. He was 3-4 with a 5.08 ERA in 1992 then did not pitch in NPB for two years. Returning as a reliever in 1995, he was 1-0 with a save, .201 opponent average, 2.84 ERA and 26 walks in 44 1/3 IP. He allowed one run in two innings in the 1995 Japan Series as the Swallows beat the Orix BlueWave. Hiroto struggled as a LOOGY in 1996 (.364 opponent average, 7.63 ERA, 0-1 record in 22 games).

The Yachiyo native was resurgent in 1997, going 5-1 with 6 saves, a 1.99 ERA and .194 opponent average in 45 1/3 IP over 60 outings. He was six games pitched behind CL leader Ryuichi Kawahara. He allowed five of 14 Seibu Lions to reach base in the 1997 Japan Series but tossed three shutout innings as Yakult won another title. Kato struggled badly in both 1998 (1-1, 8.44, .341 opponent average in 16 G) and 1999 (0-2, 8 R, 16 H, 5 BB in 7 IP). He spent 2000 either injured or in the minors. He ended his career with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2001, allowing six runs on 13 hits and 6 walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Overall, Kato pitched 266 games in NPB (59 starts), going 27-38 with 8 saves and a 3.85 ERA. He allowed a .261 average and walked 270 in 549 1/3 IP.

Source: Japan Baseball Daily