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Akira Niho

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Akira Niho
Niho with the Hanshin Tigers
Pitcher
Born: (1990-05-18) May 18, 1990 (age 34)
Yukuhashi, Fukuoka, Japan
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
September 13, 2012, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
Win–loss record13–12
ERA4.73
Strikeouts115
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Akira Niho (二保 旭, Niho Akira, born May 18, 1990) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Hanshin Tigers, and Chiba Lotte Marines.

Professional career

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Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

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Niho with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On October 30, 2008, Niho was drafted as a developmental player by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the 2008 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

2009–2015

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From 2009 to mid-2012, Niho played in informal matches against the Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB's second league. In November 2011, he became a free agent at the expiration of his contract according to the regulations of the developmental player system, but was re-signed.[2]

On July 30, 2012, he signed a 5 million yen re-contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under control.[3] On September 13, Niho pitched his debut game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.[4]

In 2013, Niho recorded a 6.00 ERA in 5 games with Fukuoka, spending the majority of the year at the farm. He spent the entirety of the 2014 season at the farm, posting a 2.91 ERA in 33 games.[5]

On May 3, 2015, Niho recorded his first of the 2015 season.[6] In 2015, he finished the regular season with a 6–1 record and 3.25 ERA to go along with 5 holds and 28 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings across 44 appearances. Additionally, Niho won the 2015 Japan Series with Fukuoka.[7]

2016–2020

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On April 19, 2016, Niho underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the remainder of the year.[8] Niho appeared in 16 games with the farm team in 2017, without playing for Fukuoka.

On April 10, 2018, Niho pitched in the Pacific League against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for the first time in three years.[9] For the 2018 season, he finished the regular season with a 1–0 record and 5.34 ERA with 4 holds, 1 save, and 17 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings of work across 35 appearances. Niho won the 2018 Japan Series with Fukuoka.[10]

In 2019, Niho finished the regular season with a 1–4 record and 3.99 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings across 8 games. He won the 2019 Japan Series, his third championship victory of his career.[11]

In a match against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on July 11, 2020, Niho pitched his longest outing of his career, going 7 innings to become the winning pitcher.[12] In 2020, he finished the regular season with a 4–5 record and 4.92 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings of work across 12 games. He won the 2020 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants, his fourth Japan Series win of his career.[13] Niho made only 2 appearances for Fukuoka in 2021, posting a 4.76 ERA in 11.1 innings pitched.

Hanshin Tigers

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On July 2, 2021, Niho was traded to the Hanshin Tigers in exchange for Masahiro Nakatani.[14][15]

Chiba Lotte Marines

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On November 28, 2023, Niho signed a development contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines. He made 8 appearances for Lotte in 2024, struggling to a 12.19 ERA with 4 strikeouts across 10+1⁄3 innings pitched. On November 3, 2024, Niho announced his retirement from professional baseball.[16]

References

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  1. ^ In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under control (active roster of players), each team can have developmental players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under control within the 3 year contract period (Non-tender FA players and contract expired players renew their contract every year).
  2. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Press release (Japanese) 2011/11/30(水) プレスリリース 育成選手契約締結のお知らせ". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). November 30, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  3. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトＢ 育成４年目二保を支配下登録". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 31, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "Game stats (Japanese) 2012/09/13（木）第18回戦 福岡ソフトバンク vs 楽天イーグルス". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). September 13, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  5. ^ "Akira Niho Japanese & Winter Leagues Statistics & History".
  6. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトＢ二保「やっと」1勝、育成入団7年目の感激". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). May 4, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2015 出場資格者名簿（福岡ソフトバンクホークス）". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク二保が右肘手術、復帰まで10カ月以上". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 19, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "Nishinippon Shimbun baseball news (Japanese) ソフトB二保、3季ぶり1軍戦登板 16年の右肘手術から完全復活へ". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). April 11, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  10. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2018 出場資格者名簿（福岡ソフトバンクホークス）". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2019 出場資格者名簿（福岡ソフトバンクホークス）". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  12. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク二保「直球」生かし自己最長イニング & 372日ぶり勝利". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). July 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball (Japanese) SMBC日本シリーズ2020 出場資格者名簿 (福岡ソフトバンクホークス)". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  14. ^ @NPB_Reddit (2 July 2021). "The Hanshin Tigers sent OF Masahiro Nakatani to the Softbank Hawks for P Akira Niho. #npb" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 阪神中谷将大とソフトバンク二保旭が交換トレード、両球団の思惑が一致". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  16. ^ "x.com".
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