Shigeki Sano

Shigeki Sano (佐野 慈紀)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 200 lbs.

• School Kindai University
• High School Matsuyama Commercial High School

• Born April 30, 1968 in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Shigeki Sano pitched in Nippon Pro Baseball and the minor leagues.

Sano was drafted by the Kintetsu Buffaloes in the third round of the 1990 NPB draft, and he joined their bullpen as a rookie. He had a 3.82 ERA in 38 appearances in 1991, then his ERA was 4.12 in 31 games in 1992. Sano improved to a 1.99 ERA in 43 games in 1993, but his ERA rose to 3.47 in 47 games in 1994 with a 8-4 record. Sano was 5th in appearances in the Pacific League in 1994, tied with Toshihide Narimoto. Sano recorded a 3.50 ERA in 44 games in 1995, and he collected 10 wins. He tied Shintaro Yamasaki, Koji Noda and Takehiro Ishii for 10th in wins, and he tied Narimoto and Hiroshi Nagatomi for 8th in games pitched.

The Matsuyama native then notched 7 saves with a 2.95 ERA in 57 games in 1996 and led the league in appearances. With his solid pitching, he became the first middle-inning reliever to reach a 100 million yen annual salary. His ERA was 3.91 in 51 games in 1997, and he was 8th in appearances (tied with Takahito Nomura, Akinori Otsuka and Katsunori Okamoto). However, Sano underwent Tommy John Surgery, and he missed the entire 1998 season.

Returning to the team in 1999, Sano's ERA rose to 5.47 in 28 games. The Buffaloes then traded him with Kazuhito Yoshimura and Hideo Koike to the Chunichi Dragons for Kotaro Azuse, Ken Kadokura and Takuichi Furuike. He struggled in 2000 as his ERA was 5.47 in 11 games, then he was released. Sano then joined the Elmira Pioneers of the Northern League East as a starter in 2001, and he was 6-6 with a 2.16 ERA. He had a 3-3 record with a 2.75 ERA in 2002 with the Pioneers, but he struggled for the Tigres Capitalinos as his ERA was 6.89 in 5 games. Sano returned to Japan and signed with the Orix BlueWave in 2003, but he only pitched 2 games then he announced his retirement.

Overall, Sano was 41-37 with a 3.8068 ERA, notched 27 saves in 353 games, struck out 414 and pitched 648 1/3 innings in 10 years in NPB.