Hisayoshi Chono

Hisayoshi Chono (長野 久義)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.
• School Nihon University
• High School Chikuyo Gakuen High School
• Born December 6, 1984 in Kiyama, Saga Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Hisayoshi Chono is an amateur Japanese outfielder.

Amateur Career

After college, Chono began playing for Honda in the industrial leagues. Chono was 3 for 15 with a double and a triple as Japan's left fielder in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup. He hit a 3-run sayonara homer off Seung-hwan Oh in a win over South Korea in the 2006 Asian Games. The Nippon Ham Fighters took him in the 4th round of the 2006 NPB draft but he refused to sign, saying he wanted to play only for the Yomiuri Giants. In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, Chono batted .457/.486/.657 with 8 runs in 9 games as Japan's main center fielder but was left off the tourney All-Star team as Frederich Cepeda, Trent Oeltjen and Colby Rasmus got the nod.

Professional Career

The Chiba Lotte Marines took Chono in the 2nd round of the 2008 NPB draft after he said he would consider signing with a team other than Yomiuri. Chiba Lotte reportedly offered him a 100 million yen and performance bonuses totaling 50 million yen with a salary of 15 million yen. He turned down the deal, deciding to play another year in the industrial leagues to keep open his chances of being picked by Yomiuri.

Chono helped Japan win Gold at the 2009 Asian Championship, being named MVP of Round One. He was finally taken by Yomiuri in the first round of the 2009 NPB draft. He debuted on Opening Day 2010, March 26, as a defensive sub in left field for Alex Ramirez. He did not get an at-bat. For the season, he hit .288/.330/.491 with 19 home runs to win the 2010 Central League Rookie of the Year Award.

Sources include

• IBAF
• Japanese Wikipedia entry