Toru Hamaura

Toru Hamaura (浜浦 徹)
(El Toro)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
• High School Tsukumi High School
• Born August 22, 1952 in Tsukumi, Oita Japan

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Toru Hamaura pitched in the minor leagues and the NPB for 10 years. He was famous for being involved in the first trade between Japan and the USA.

Hamaura was drafted by the Lotte Orions in the second round of the 1971 NPB draft, and he stayed in the NPB Farm Leagues in his first season. He was selected into the All-Star Game there. In training camp in Arizona after this season, the scouts of the San Francisco Giants were impressed by his pitching, so they offered Frank Johnson in exchange for Hamaura. He was 10-8 with 9 complete games and a 3.15 ERA in 27 games (23 starts) for the Fresno Giants in 1972, and he ranked 6th in strikeouts in California League (between Rick Nitz and Willie Prall). Hamaura was 10-7 with 11 complete games and a 3.68 ERA in 27 games (24 starts) for Fresno in 1973, and he was 5th in strikeouts (between Jim Officer and Nardi Contreras). He averaged about a strikeout per inning those years, as well.

The Oita native returned to Japan after the 1973 season, and he joined the Taiheiyo Club Lions. He was 4-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 1974, then he had a 2-8 record with a 4.97 ERA in 1975. Hamaura had serious command problems in 1976, and he was 4-7 with a 6.59 ERA. The Lions then removed him from the rotation, and he had a 4.86 ERA in 14 games in 1977. After having a 6.58 ERA in 10 games in 1978, Hamaura only got 8 appearances in the next two seasons combined. The Lions released him in 1980, and the Orions picked him up. However, he didn't pitch any games for their big club in 1981, and he announced his retirement.

Overall, he went 20-15 with a 3.43 ERA in 54 games (47 starts) for Fresno. In 341 innings, he allowed 311 hits and 147 walks (1.343 WHIP), while striking out 336 batters. In Japan, he was 11-22 with a 5.26 ERA in 103 games (42 starts). In 359 1/3 innings, he allowed 376 hits and 183 walks (1.556 WHIP), while striking out 192 batters. Combined, he went 31-37 with a 4.37 ERA in 157 games (89 starts).