Kazuyuki Ono

Kazuyuki Ono (小野 和幸)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 205 lb.

• High School Kanaashi Nogyo High School

• Born August 19, 1962 in Akita, Akita Japan

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Biographical Information

Kazuyuki Ono pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Ono was signed by the Seibu Lions in 1980. He spent his first four year in the NPB Farm Leagues. Ono led the Eastern League in wins in 1981 and 1983, and led the league in ERA in 1984. However, the young righty only played 13 games combined in 4 years and allowed 14 runs with 26 2/3 inning pitched in the Pacific League during this period. Ono finally gained some chances to pitched in the big club, recorded a 4.08 ERA in 10 starts in 1985 season. He started Game 2 of the 1985 Japan Series but lost to Osamu Fukuma, allowing four runs in 2/3 of an inning; Takeshi Ishii took over. He was 6-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 1986 season, then recorded a 4-11 record with a 3.86 ERA in 1987. He was selected into the 1986 NPB All-Star Game, relieved in the 10th inning in Game 3, and Sadaaki Yoshimura blasted a walk-off 2-run shot off him. In the 1987 Japan Series, he pitched one shutout inning and Seibu beat the Yomiuri Giants. After the 1987 season, the Lions traded him to the Chunichi Dragons for Ken Hirano.

1988 season was his career year. Ono participated in the All-Star Game again, and ended up 18-8 with a 2.60 ERA. He led the league in wins and winning percentage, ranked 5th in ERA and 12th in strikeouts. He won both the Best Nine and NPB Gold Glove Award in this year. He fell to 0-1, 8.59 in the 1988 Japan Series, losing to his old Seibu mates; he dropped Game 1 to Hisanobu Watanabe. However, this was the last productive year for Ono. He suffered from injuries and his ERA rose to 6.20 in 1989 season. He couldn't find his top condition again, had a 5.02 ERA in 1990 and missed the entire 1991 season. He became a free agent afterthe 1993 season, and transferred to the Chiba Lotte Marines. Ono was 4-4 with a 5.02 ERA in 1994, then announced his retirement after the 1995 season. Ono then became the pitching coach for the Marines from 1996 to 2003, and coached the Uni-President Lions in 2004. He was the all-time career wins leader in the NPB Farm Leagues with 63 wins.

Overall, Ono was 43-39 with a 4.19 ERA and pitched 744 innings in twelve seasons in NPB.