Yasuo Kubo

Yasuo Kubo (久保 康生)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 182 lb.

• High School Yanagawa Shogyo High School

• Born April 8, 1958 in Iizuka, Fukuoka Japan

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Biographical Information

Yasuo Kubo pitched for 20 years in Nippon Pro Baseball.

Kubo was picked by the Kintetsu Buffaloes in the first round in the 1976 NPB draft. He debuted in 1978, allowing 10 runs in 15 2/3 innings over six appearances. The next year, he was battered for 17 hits and eight runs in 10 innings for Kintetsu. He was more effective in 1980, going 8-5 with three saves and a 4.01 ERA. He allowed one run in three innings in the 1980 Japan Series, which Kintetsu dropped in seven innings.

Kubo went 9-11 with 8 saves and a 4.08 ERA as a swingman in 1981. Entering the rotation as a mainstay in 1982, he posted a 12-9, 3.87 record. He fell to 5-10 with two saves and a 4.55 ERA in 1983, his last season with 20 or more starts.

Yasuo was 5-6 with two saves and a 4.76 ERA in 1984 and bombed in 1985 (2-1, 7.62, .292 opponent average in 30 G). He recovered in 1986 to go 4-3 with a 3.49 ERA for the Buffaloes. He saw limited action (3 starts, 9 relief appearances) in 1987 and was 0-2 with a save and a 5.40 ERA. In 1988, the veteran moved to the Hanshin Tigers and went 4-2 with a 4.42 ERA in 25 outings.

For Hanshin in 1989, he was 2-2 with a 5.11 ERA then had a 3-3, 3 save, 4.07 campaign in 1990. That year, he whiffed 89 in 84 innings. He led not only the Central League, but all of NPB, in games pitched (55). He fell to 37 appearances in 1991 and did very well (6-3, 6 saves, 3.17, .233 opponent average).

Kubo was 1-0 with a save and a 5.14 ERA in 11 outings in 1992 then went 4-0 with two saves, a 3.40 ERA and .215 opponent average in 1993. The reliable Tiger right-hander was 4-2 with a save and a 3.10 ERA in 50 games in 1994.

Yasuo pitched 45 games in 1995, going 1-2 with a 5.85 ERA. He was 1-0 with a 2.32 ERA in 21 outings in 1996 while moving back to Kintetsu in mid-season, then had a 0-1, 5.12 record in 18 games in 1997 before retiring at age 39.

Kubo pitched 550 games in NPB, going 71-62 with 30 saves and a 4.32 ERA. He later was a coach for the Buffaloes.

Source: Japan Baseball Daily by Gary Garland