Akira Niho

Akira Niho (二保 旭, Niho Akira, born May 18, 1990 in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka, Japan) is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Akira Niho
Niho with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 13
pitcher
Born: (1990-05-18) May 18, 1990
Yukuhashi, Fukuoka, Japan
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
September 13, 2012, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
NPB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record12-10
ERA4.29
Holds9
Saves1
Strikeouts94
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

On October 30, 2008, Niho was drafted as a developmental squad player (ja:育成選手制度 (日本プロ野球)) by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the 2008 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[1]

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

On July 30, 2012, he signed a 5 million yen contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under management. (ja:支配下選手登録)[3] On September 13, Niho pitched his debut game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.[4]

From mid-2012 season to 2014 season, he pitched a 8 games.

On May 3, 2015, Niho recorded his first win the game in seven years.[5] In 2015 season, he finished the regular season with a 44 Games pitched, a 6–1 Win–loss record, a 3.25 ERA, a 5 Holds, a 28 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. And he was selected as the Japan Series roster in the 2015 Japan Series.[6]

In 2016 season, Niho had a Tommy John surgery on April 19.[7]

On April 10, 2018, Niho pitched in the Pacific League against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for the first time in three years.[8] In 2018 season, he finished the regular season with a 35 Games pitched, a 1–0 Win–loss record, a 5.34 ERA, a 4 Holds, a one Saves, a 17 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings. And he was selected as the Japan Series roster in the 2018 Japan Series.[9]

In 2019 season, Niho finished the regular season with a 8 Games pitched, a 1–4 Win–loss record, a 3.99 ERA, a 15 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings. And he was selected as the Japan Series roster in the 2019 Japan Series.[10]

References
  1. In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under management (active roster of players) , each team can have developmental squad players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under management 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. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. "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.
  8. "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.
  9. "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.
  10. "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.


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