Hirokazu Okada

Hirokazu Okada (岡田 展和)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.

• High School Kindai University Fukuyama High School

• Born January 21, 1968 in Mihara, Hiroshima Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Hirokazu Okada played in Nippon Pro Baseball for 8 years.

Okada was drafted by the Seibu Lions in the 5th round of the 1985 NPB draft, and he spent his first three seasons primarily in the NPB Farm Leagues; he only pitched 13 games combined for the big club. Okada went 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA in 1990, and he pitched 3 games with a 4.15 ERA in 1991. The Lions then traded him to the Yomiuri Giants for Yasushi Matsubara, and he only got 8 appearances combined in the next two seasons. Okada recorded a 3.30 ERA in 41 relief outings in 1994, and he allowed 3 runs in 2/3 of an inning in the 1994 Nippon Series Game 1; the Giants beat the Lions in 6 games.

The Hiroshima native had a 3.56 ERA in 26 appearances in 1995, but his ERA rose to 5.70 in 27 appearances in 1996. He bounced back with a 3.09 ERA in 24 appearances in 1997, and he went 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA in 1998. Okada then had a 3.77 ERA in 15 games in 1999, and the Giants released him. He signed with the Yokohama BayStars, and he recorded a 2.45 ERA in 8 games in 2000 and he retired. He later became an assistant coach for Tokai University Hokkaido Campus.

Overall, Okada was 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA, struck out 210 and pitched 303 2/3 innings in 14 seasons in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan