Toshihiro Noguchi

Toshihiro Noguchi (野口 寿浩)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 165 lb.

• High School Narashino High School

• Born June 24, 1971 in Narashino, Chiba Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Toshihiro Noguchi has caught for 17 years in Nippon Pro Baseball (through 2009).

Noguchi was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Yakult Swallows. He appeared in one game and did not bat in 1991 then returned to the minors for a couple more years. In 1994, Noguchi hit .270/.320/.319 in 63 games as a backup to Atsuya Furuta. He was 2 for 9 with a double, homer, 3 runs and 5 RBI in 1995. He pinch-ran in the 1995 Japan Series and scored a run. Continuing to backup Furuta, he was 4 for 25 with a double and 3 walks in 1996 and 3 for 9 with 2 doubles, 3 runs and 2 RBI in 1997. He was then traded to the Nippon Ham Fighters for Noriyuki Shiroishi.

Noguchi hit .235/.293/.422 for the Fighters in 1998 and made the Pacific League All-Star team. In 1999, he batted .240/.269/.355 with only 11 unintentional walks in 420 plate appearances. He made the PL All-Star team in 2000, when he had a career year, batting .298/.337/.473 with 31 doubles, 11 triples and 76 RBI. He became the first catcher ever to lead the PL in triples, tying Kazuo Matsui for the lead.

Noguchi slumped to .229/.271/.356 in 2001 and .227/.264/.323 in 2002. He was then dealt to the Hanshin Tigers for Tomochika Tsuboi.

With Hanshin, Noguchi was back to a supporting role, backing up Akihiro Yano. He hit .271/.313/.393 in 59 games in 2003. He appeared in one game in the 2003 Japan Series but did not bat. Noguchi was 7 for 31 in 2004 and 5 for 31 with two doubles in 2005. In 2004, he caught a no-hitter by Kei Igawa. Just as in 2003, he played one game in the 2005 Japan Series without batting. Noguchi was 3 for 20 in 2006. He hit .351/.398/.532 in 106 plate appearances in 2007. Subbing for Yano in 2008, he hit .191/.281/.248 in 55 games. Through '08, his career batting line was .250/.295/.378 in 892 contests.

A free agent following '08, Noguchi signed with the Yokohama BayStars.

Source: Japan Baseball Daily by Gary Garland