Tomoki Hoshino

Tomoki Hoshino (星野 智樹)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 163 lb.

• High School Yokkaichi Technical High School

• Born July 29, 1977 in Inabe-gun, Mie Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Tomoki Hoshino is a pitcher with the Seibu Lions. He is a junkballer.

Hoshino pitched for the Prince Hotels in the industrial leagues after high school. The Seibu Lions chose him in the 3rd round of the 1998 NPB draft. He debuted in 1999, going 1-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 16 games. He walked 9 and allowed 5 runs in 5 2/3 IP in 2000 and gave up 9 hits and 6 runs in 1 1/3 in 2001.

In 2002, Hoshino was 2-0 and allowed one run in 8 1/3 IP. A year later, Tomoki gave up 26 baserunners and 10 runs in 13 innings. He became a regular in 2004, going 4-3 in 56 games; a LOOGY, he pitched 46 innings. He only gave up 26 hits (a .164 opponent average) and struck out 59 while walking 31. His ERA was 2.15. In the 2004 Japan Series, he faced four batters, allowing a hit and a walk.

Hoshino only pitched 37 2/3 innings in 56 games in 2005, going 1-2 with a 3.11 ERA and 40 strikeouts. In 2006, the southpaw tossed 36 2/3 innings and allowed only 21 hits (a .163 average against) while striking out 39. He had a 3.93 ERA and was 1-3 with a save in 58 games. He averaged just 2.57 batters faced per appearance.

Hoshino had 28 1/3 innings in 37 games in 2007 and posted a 3.49 ERA with no decisions. In 2008, he pitched 63 games and only worked 34 innings. He went 4-1 and allowed 22 hits for a .193 average. He tied Daisuke Kato for third in the Pacific League in appearances.

Sources

• Japanesebaseball.com by Michael Westbay
• Japan Baseball Daily by Gary Garland
• Japanese Wikipedia entry