Sadaharu Hiranuma

Sadaharu Hiranuma (平沼 定晴)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 171 lb.

• High School Chiba University of Commerce High School

• Born March 27, 1965 in Narashino, Chiba Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Sadaharu Hiranuma pitched for 15 seasons in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Hiranuma was picked by the Chunichi Dragons in the second round of 1982 NPB draft. He allowed five runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 IP in his debut with the big club in 1984. He went 0-1 with a .391 opponent average and 18 walks in 20 2/3 IP in 1985. In 1986, he was 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA. He was then dealt with Kazuhiko Ushijima, Shigeru Kuwata and Seiji Kamikawa to the Lotte Orions for Hiromitsu Ochiai.

Hiranuma was 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 35 games for the Orions in 1987 but was roughed up in 1988 (0-1, 12.46, .392 opponent average, 11 BB in 17 1/3 IP). He did lead the Eastern League in wins while in the minors in '88. In 1989, the right-hander went 1-3 with four saves and a 5.65 ERA for the Orions, followed by a 4.68 ERA and .319 opponent average in 18 outings in 1990.

Sadaharu went 4-6 with a save and a 3.47 ERA in 1991, then 6-2 with a 2.41 ERA and .209 opponent average in his career year, 1992. He had a 3-2, 4.50 record in 1993 and 2-5, 5.84 with a .306 opponent average in 1994. He ended his run with Lotte in 1995, with six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 IP.

The Marines then dealt him with Yukinaga Maeda and Kazutoshi Higuchi to Chunichi for Toru Nimura, Tadaharu Saeki and Yasushi Yamamoto. Hiranuma gave up 23 hits and 12 runs in 14 innings in 1996 and tossed 3 2/3 shutout innings (but with 6 hits) in 1997. He ended his career with the 1998 Seibu Lions, surrendering 7 runs in 9 1/3 IP.

In 342 games in NPB, Hiranuma was 18-22 with 5 saves, .288 opponent average and a 4.81 ERA. He was later Chunichi's batting practice pitcher.

Source: japanbaseballdaily.com