Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano announces retirement

Yoshihisa Hirano, a veteran pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes, has announced his retirement at the end of the current season. The 42-year-old right-hander currently serves as both a pitcher and a pitching coach for the team in the NPB Pacific League.

Throughout his career, Hirano has recorded 258 saves across Japanese and U.S. Major League Baseball. His tenure in the MLB included playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2018–2019) and the Seattle Mariners (2020). In the NPB, he has achieved 250 saves, 702 appearances, and 1,000 strikeouts, helping the Buffaloes secure three consecutive Pacific League titles through 2023.

Additionally, Taiwanese pitcher Chen Mu-heng continues to make an impact with the Orix Buffaloes. Having transitioned to a regular player and assigned the jersey number 92, the Taichung-born pitcher has become a notable figure for the organization and the Taiwanese baseball community.