Kazuhiko Shiotani

Kazuhiko Shiotani (塩谷 和彦)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 172 lb.

• High School Shinko Gakuen High School

• Born May 27, 1974 in Takasago, Hyogo Japan

BR register page

Biographical information

Kazuhiko Shiotani is a former NPB infielder (primarily), catcher and outfielder who spent one year in the United States and one in South Korea.

At one point in high school, Shiotani hit a home run in eight straight games. In 1992, he played in a Koshien Tournament. The Hanshin Tigers drafted him in the sixth round in 1992. In his first pro at-bat, he hit a pinch-hit homer in ni-gun.

He was loaned out to the US minors in 1994, appearing for the Appalachian League's Bristol Tigers. That year, he hit .000 with six strikeouts in 14 at-bats. He threw out all four runners who tried to steal against him.

From 1995 to 2001, he made it to the big club of the Hanshin Tigers. In 1995, he hit .000 in four at-bats, in 1996 he hit .250 with a grand slam in eight at-bats (the same inning he hit his grand slam, Tsuyoshi Shinjo also hit one, the first time that two teammates did that in NPB), in 1997 he hit .000 in five at-bats and in 1998 he hit .105/.105/.105 in 19 at-bats. He saw more action in 1999, hitting .282/.339/.385 with three home runs in 117 at-bats in a utility role. In 2000, he hit .252/.328/.327 in 107 at-bats and in 2001, he hit only .210/.273/.321 in 81 at-bats.

After demanding more playing time, he was traded to the Orix Blue Wave, with whom he played until 2004. He hit .230/.280/.339 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 274 at-bats in 2002, and in 2003 he hit .307/.360/.401 with eight home runs and 46 RBI. He earned a spot on the Pacific League All-Star team that year. In 2004, he hit .269 with nine home runs and 49 RBI in 360 at-bats.

Overall, he hit .263/.313/.365 in 495 games (1,445 at-bats).

He played for the SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization in 2006, hitting .297/.350/.440 in 23 games.

Sources include KBO Player Page, Japanbaseballdaily