Ikuhiro Kiyota

From BR Bullpen

Ikuhiro Kiyota (清田 育宏)

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 10", Weight 176 lb.

BR Register page

Biographical Information[edit]

Outfielder Ikuhiro Kiyota was 3 for 27 with 10 strikeouts, a walk, double and run for Japan in the 2007 World Port Tournament. He was back with Japan for the 2009 Asian Championship, hitting 3 home runs in six games. In the final phase, he hit .600 to lead Japan to a Gold Medal; he was named the MVP of the final round. He hit .351/.442/.486 with 7 runs in 10 games in the 2009 Baseball World Cup but Japan failed to make it to the third round. He was third on Japan in OPS behind Shoh Aranami and Yoshinobu Kotegawa.

The Chiba Lotte Marines took him in the 4th round of the 2009 NPB draft. He debuted in Nippon Pro Baseball on May 26, 2010 as a pinch-hitter for Bill Murphy. He singled off Dioni Soriano. For the season, he played in 64 games, hitting .290/.373/.382. Starting in left field in the 2010 Japan Series, he excelled at .333/.394/.533 with 6 runs and 6 RBI in 7 games as Chiba Lotte won its second title ever.

He got four votes for the 2010 Pacific League Rookie of the Year Award, trailing teammate Takashi Ogino, Sho Nakata and three pitchers.