Yoshitaka Kihara

Yoshitaka Kihara (木原 義隆)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 162 lb.

• School Hosei University
• High School Kainan High School

• Born July 12, 1942 in Kainan, Wakayama Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yoshitaka Kihara played in Nippon Pro Baseball for 12 years.

Kihara signed with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1965, and he went 8-12 with a 3.68 ERA in his first season. He slumped to 3-6 with a 5.16 ERA in 1966, and he had a 2-4 record with a 4.07 ERA in 1967. The Buffaloes then traded him to the Taiyo Whales for cash, and Kihara pitched 8 games with a 6.43 ERA in 1968. His ERA was 2.77 in 8 appearances in 1969, and he was traded for cash again to the Hiroshima Carp. Kihara recorded a 2.74 ERA in 21 relief outings in 1970, then he went 7-5 with a 2.39 ERA in 1971. He was 3-9 with a 3.45 ERA in 1972, but he only pitched one game for the big club in 1973. Kihara notched 5 saves with a 3.05 ERA in 31 appearances in 1974, and he was 5th in saves in the Central League (tied with Keishi Asano and Ritsuo Yamashita). The Carp released him after that season, and he signed with the Seibu Lions. Kihara returned to the rotation in 1975 as he went 10-9 with a 2.76 ERA, and he was 7th in ERA in the Pacific League (between Mitsuhiro Adachi and Norihiro Mizutani). He had a 0-6 record with a 4.58 ERA in 1976, and he announced his retirement.

Overall, Kihara was 35-56 with a 3.42 ERA, struck out 358 and pitched 806 innings in 12 seasons in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan