◇ Orix Buffaloes vs Fukuoka Softbank Game 24 (25th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano, who had announced his retirement at the end of this season, took the mound for the final time in his active career.

He came on as the 7th pitcher in the top of the 9th inning. Facing Fukuoka Softbank's Akira Nakamura, who is also retiring this season, he threw his finishing fork on a count 2-2 to record a swinging struck out. Having recorded his 1001st career strike out, Yoshihisa Hirano shook hands with the infielder crew who gathered at the mound and returned to the dugout amidst applause from the entire stadium.

Yoshihisa Hirano joined the Orix Buffaloes via the 2005 university/adult draft hope slot. He served as a starter for three seasons starting from his rookie year before converting to a reliever in 2010. The following year, he appeared in a then-Pacific League record 72 games, earning 43 hold and 49 hold points—both new league records—to win the best reliever title. In 2014, he appeared in 62 games as a closer. He shone with 40 saves to lead the league, establishing a Pacific League record at the time.

After the 2017 season, he exercised his international FA rights to challenge MLB. He appeared in 75 games in his first year with the Diamondbacks. This became the highest number of appearances for a Japanese pitcher in MLB. Over three seasons, he recorded 150 games, 8 saves, 48 hold, and a 3.69 ERA before returning to his former team in 2021. Since then, he reigned as the closer, contributing to the team's three consecutive league championships. In this season, which he entered as a player-coach, he achieved 1000 career NPB strike out during the opening series.

◇ Yoshihisa Hirano NPB Career Stats
703 games 56 win 78 losses 157 hold 250 saves 1119 innings pitched 1001 strike out ERA 2.98

◇ Yoshihisa Hirano's Records
First appearance: March 26, 2006 vs Seibu Lions
First start/First win: March 30, 2006 vs Rakuten Eagles
First hold: April 21, 2010 vs Hokkaido Nippon-Ham
First save: July 28, 2010 vs Hokkaido Nippon-Ham
NPB 1000 career innings pitched: September 3, 2021 vs Fukuoka Softbank
Japan-US 800 career games pitched: April 28, 2023 vs Chiba Lotte Marines
Japan-US 200 career hold: May 14, 2023 vs Fukuoka Softbank
Japan-US 250 career saves: October 2, 2023 vs Hokkaido Nippon-Ham
NPB 250 career saves: April 3, 2025 vs Chiba Lotte Marines
NPB 700 career games pitched: April 9, 2025 vs Fukuoka Softbank
NPB 1000 career strike out: March 29, 2026 vs Rakuten Eagles