Yuichi Kiyohara

Yuichi Kiyohara (清原 雄一)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 190 lb.

• High School Yanagigaura High School

• Born May 23, 1969 in Kunisaki, Oita Japan

BR register page

Biographical Information

Yuichi Kiyohara played in Nippon Pro Baseball for 11 years.

Kiyohara signed with the Hankyu Braves in 1987, and he had a 2.89 ERA in 11 appearances in 1988. The Braves became the Orix Braves after that season, and Kiyohara's ERA rose to 7.46 in 27 games in 1989. He only pitched 5 games for the big club in 1990, and he went 2-0 with a 3.67 ERA in 1991. Kiyohara returned to the minors because he allowed 7 runs in 3 1/3 innings in 1992, and he stayed there for the entire 1993 season. He returned in 1994 as his ERA was 2.86 in 28 relief outings, and he recorded a 2.50 ERA in 43 appearances in 1995. Kiyohara allowed a 2-run homer to Yuji Ono in the 1995 Nippon Series Game 1, and he completed 1/3 of a shutout inning in Game 3. Orix lost to the Yakult Swallows in 5 games. He had a 4.26 ERA in 12 games in 1996, and his ERA was 5.19 in 10 games in 1997. Kiyohara recorded a 2.57 ERA in 9 games in 1998, and he was released. The Hanshin Tigers picked him up, but Kiyohara only pitched 2 games due to elbow injury in 1999 and he announced his retirement. He later became a batting practice pitcher for the Tigers from 2001 to 2011 and for Japanese national team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Overall, Kiyohara was 5-2 with a 4.29 ERA, struck out 94 and pitched 178 1/3 innings in 11 seasons in NPB.

Sources

• Wiki Japan