Hitoshi Ono

Hitoshi Ono (小野 仁)

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 182 lb.
• High School North Asia University Meioh High School

• Born August 23, 1976 in Akita, Akita Japan

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Biographical Information

Hitoshi Ono pitched in the Olympics and Nippon Pro Baseball.

Ono was timed at 94 mph in high school. He helped the Japanese national team win Gold in the 1994 Asian Games and 1995 Asian Championship. In the 1995 Intercontinental Cup, he allowed one hit and one run in 7 innings for Japan, fanning 9 but walking 6 for the Silver Medalists. In the 1996 Olympics, he made two appearances. He started in the round-robin phase against Pedro Luis Lazo and the Cuban national team. He was toasted in one trip through the order, allowing four hits (including a homer to Orestes Kindelan) and a walk in 1 1/3 IP. He gave up 5 runs before Jutaro Kimura relieved him. Japan rallied to tie it, only to lose in extra innings. Against Team USA, Ono faced four batters while wrapping up a 15-5 loss, retiring Kip Harkrider, allowing a single to Augie Ojeda then getting both Mark Kotsay and Jacque Jones. He did not play in the Silver Medal game, which Japan lost to Cuba. His 19.29 ERA for the event was 14.02 worse than Japan's next-worst hurler, Kimura.

The Yomiuri Giants took him in the second round of the 1996 NPB draft. In 1997, the rookie was 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA and .304 opponent average in 11 games (one start). Hitoshi had a 2-7, 5.19 record in 1998. In 1999, he walked 7 and allowed 8 runs (5 earned) in 6 2/3 innings, losing one of his two starts. He allowed two runs in 3 1/3 IP in his lone start of 2000. In 2001, he surrendered 12 hits, 7 walks and 8 runs (6 earned) in 7 1/3 IP out of the Yomiuri bullpen. He finished his NPB career with a 3-8, 5.77 record and .300 opponent average in 36 games.

He was much better in Japan's minors, striking out 20 one game, throwing a no-hitter another and winning an Eastern League ERA title in 2002. After the 2002 season, he was dealt to the Kintetsu Buffaloes. They let him go after one bad year on the farm. The Minnesota Twins signed him to a minor league deal but his woes continued and he never pitched in Organized Baseball.

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Sources

• japanbaseballdaily
• Defunct IBAF site