Hiroya Shimamoto

Hiroya Shimamoto (島本 浩也, Shimamoto Hiroya, born February 14, 1993) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Hiroya Shimamoto
Shimamoto with the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers – No. 46
Pitcher
Born: (1993-02-14) February 14, 1993
Yamatotakada, Nara
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
debut
April 2, 2015, for the Hanshin Tigers
NPB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss5-0
Earned run average3.54
Strikeout98
Teams

Early baseball career

Born in Nara Prefecture, Hiroya started playing baseball in 1st grade for the Yamatotakada Eagles (little league), then for the Kashihara Condor Boys when he was in junior high.[1]

During his sophomore year in Fukuchiyama Seibi High School, his team placed runner-up in the autumn Kyoto Tournament, and won against baseball powerhouse PL Gakuen High School during the Kinki Tournament, where he pitched a complete game (1 earned-run, 10 strikeouts). In his junior year however, due to the involvement of his teammates in a scandal, their team was banned from participating in games. They also didn't make it to Kōshien tournaments.

Professional career

In October 28, 2010, Hanshin Tigers selected Shimamoto with the second selection in the 2010 NPB draft.[2] In November 12, he signed with the Tigers for an estimated 3 million yen annual salary. He was assigned the jersey number 126.[3]。

He appeared in a handful of Western League (farm) games in his first two years. In 2013, he was able to pitch as a reliever in 25 farm games, but the opposing batters seemed to get the best of him and he finished with an ERA of 4.94. Because he was unable to make it to the main roster for three years, he was released from his contract on October 31,[4] and was offered to sign a 1-year Ikusei (development) contract on November 12.[5]

His appearances in farm games increased in 2014, and upon release from his Ikusei contract,[6] he was again offered a regular contract on November 21.[7]

On December 2, 2020, he become a free agent.[8] On December 8, 2020, Shimamoto re-signed with the Tigers.[9]

Playing Style

With a lean build listed at 176 centimeters, Shimamoto is a southpaw pitcher whose fastballs are clocked at a maximum of 144 km/h.[10] While he can also deliver sliders and forkballs, he learned the shuuto from pitching coach Yutaka Ohno during the 2014 spring camp.[11] He was also deemed to possess excellent ball control.[12]

References
  1. "阪神・育成２位島本、亡き友に誓う甲子園登板 写真持ち入寮". Zakzak.co. 2011-01-07. Archived from the original on 2011-01-10.
  2. "阪神タイガース 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  3. "阪神、島本と仮契約＆加藤１３日テスト". Sankei Sports. 2010-11-12. Archived from the original on 2010-11-15.
  4. "2013年度 自由契約選手（育成選手）]". NPB Official Site. 2013-11-01.
  5. "育成選手との再契約について". Hanshin Tigers Official Site. 2013-11-12.
  6. "2014年度 自由契約選手（育成選手）". NPB Official Site. 2014-11-01.
  7. "島本浩也選手が契約更改". Hanshin Tigers Official Site. 2014-11-21.
  8. "2020年度 自由契約選手". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  9. "育成選手契約について". 阪神タイガース 公式サイト (in Japanese). December 8, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  10. "ナゴヤは中止、こぼれ話を少し". Sports Nippon. 2012-07-07.
  11. "島本さえた"大野"シュート 中継ぎ候補へ". Nikkan Sports. 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
  12. "高校でかなわなかった甲子園、プロで 阪神が成美高・島本浩也投手を育成指名". Ryoutan Newspapers(両丹日日新聞. 2010-10-29. Archived from the original on 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
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