| Shinji Kurano | |
|---|---|
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 94 | |
| Pitcher / Coach | |
| Born: September 15, 1974 Obata, Mie, Japan | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| NPB debut | |
| April 10, 1997, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| Last NPB appearance | |
| May 20, 2006, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| NPB statistics (through 2007) | |
| Win–loss record | 19-9 |
| Saves | 1 |
| ERA | 4.59 |
| Strikeouts | 176 |
| Teams | |
| As player
As coach
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Last updated on: 5 December 2023 | |
Shinji Kurano (倉野 信次, Kurano Shinji, born September 15, 1974 in Obata, Mie, Japan) is a former Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher, and current the first squad Pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Kurano went on to Aoyama Gakuin University, where he won the 1996 Japan National Collegiate Baseball Championship with classmates Tadahito Iguchi, Masaumi Shimizu, and Toshikazu Sawazaki. They also defeated Sumitomo Metal Industries, a corporate baseball club, in the 1996 All-Japan Amateur Baseball Championship in their senior year.[1]
On November 21, 1996, Kurano was drafted fourth round pick by the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in the 1996 Nippon Professional Baseball draft.[2]
Kurano pitched in 164 games in 11 seasons with the Hawks, posting a record of 19 wins, 9 losses, and one save.[2]
Kurano worked as a team staff member for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and served as their pitching coach from 2009 to the 2021 season.[2]
He received coaching training for the Texas Rangers in 2A and 3A during the 2022 season, and served as a coach for the 2023 season.[2][3]
On October 31, 2023, Kurano again served as the first squad pitching coach of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.[4]