Ryōsuke Hirata

2.1. Childhood and Youth Baseball

Hirata started playing baseball in the first grade with the "Sekime Junior Stars" team in his hometown of Jōtō-ku, Osaka. During his middle school years, he continued to develop his skills by playing in the "Osaka Kita" and "Osaka Tsushima" leagues within the Boys League. Notably, his childhood friend, Kohei Mantani, lived just two houses away across the street, and they played on the same youth baseball team from first grade until first year of middle school.

2.2. High School Career

Hirata attended Osaka Tōin Junior and Senior High School, where he quickly made a significant impact. He became a regular starter in his first summer, batting sixth, and was entrusted with the cleanup role (fourth batter) by autumn. His high school career total of 70 home runs underscored his prodigious power. In his second year, he participated in the 76th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Spring Koshien), hitting a home run in the first round against Nishogakusha University High School. In his third year, during the 87th National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien), he famously hit three home runs in a single game against Tohoku High School in the quarterfinals, tying the record set by Kazuhiro Kiyohara of PL Gakuen. In the semifinals of that tournament, his team faced Tomakomai Komazawa High School, led by future MLB pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (who was a second-year student at the time). Hirata was held hitless in four at-bats, and Osaka Toin eventually lost in extra innings. His career total of five home runs at Koshien places him fourth all-time. Later that year, in September, he suffered a subluxation of his right shoulder during a game against South Korea in the AAA Asia Baseball Championship. Although surgery was initially planned, his shoulder condition improved unexpectedly, and the operation was not performed.

2.3. Draft and Professional Entry

Hirata's impressive high school performance garnered significant attention from professional scouts. In the 2005 NPB high school draft, he was the first-round pick of the Chunichi Dragons. He officially signed a professional contract on November 12, with a signing bonus of 100.00 M JPY and an annual salary of 8.40 M JPY. He specifically requested and was assigned the jersey number 8. On January 9, 2006, he moved into the Chunichi Dragons' player dormitory at Nagoya Stadium, notably bringing with him approximately 200 manga books from his extensive collection.

3.1. Early Career (2006-2010)

Hirata made his professional debut with the Dragons on August 26, 2006, being called up to the first squad for the first time. In the bottom of the ninth inning of a game against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Nagoya Dome, he made his first professional appearance as a pinch-hitter for Eiichi. He hit the first pitch he saw, resulting in a groundout to third base. Three days later, on August 29, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he appeared again as a pinch-hitter but struck out.

In 2007, Hirata secured his first professional start on October 4, playing as the seventh batter and center fielder against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Nagoya Dome. In the bottom of the eleventh inning, with the bases loaded, he was hit by a pitch, earning his first professional RBI. Two days later, on October 6, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, he recorded his first professional hit. The very next day, October 7, against the Yokohama BayStars, he achieved his first three-hit game. His late-season performance and solid defense, combined with an injury to regular center fielder Eiichi, led to him starting in all games during the 2007 Central League Climax Series. He also started in home games of the 2007 Japan Series, hitting a single in Game 3. In Game 5, he hit a sacrifice fly off Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish, which proved to be the game-winning RBI in a 1-0 victory that secured the Dragons' first Japan Series title in 53 years. This marked a significant achievement, as he became the first high school second-year position player since Noboru Inoue in 1954 to record the game-winning RBI in a Japan Series-clinching game. However, he sustained an ankle sprain during practice the day before the team's victory trip to Hawaii in December, forcing him to cancel his participation.

In 2008, Hirata started spring training with the second squad due to his ankle injury but rejoined the first squad for the fourth round. With Masahiko Morino sidelined by injury, Hirata started most exhibition games in center field and was considered a strong candidate for an opening-day roster spot. However, Morino recovered, and Hirata's exhibition game performance prevented him from making the opening-day roster. He was first recalled to the first squad on May 16 due to Morino's injury, despite a struggling .181 batting average in the minor leagues. He started that day's game against Yokohama but was demoted to the second squad on May 26 after a quiet showing. He was recalled again on June 11. On September 7, in a home game against Yokohama, he hit his first professional home run off Yokoyama Michiya as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning. This was also a walk-off solo home run, making him the seventh player in NPB history to hit their first career home run as a pinch-hit walk-off. He remained with the first squad until the end of the season, primarily used as a pinch-hitter. An injury during autumn camp meant he would start the next spring training with the second squad again.

For the 2009 season, Hirata again started spring training with the second squad. Although he didn't join the first squad during camp, he was called up for an exhibition game against Hanshin on March 17 and made his first career opening-day roster in his fourth professional year. Despite expectations to compete for an outfield position with Atsushi Fujii, Masaaki Koike, and rookie Kei Nomoto, he struggled as a pinch-hitter and was demoted on April 15. He was briefly recalled in August but continued to struggle with double plays and strikeouts in crucial situations, leading to another demotion in September. He finished the season having played 42 games, fewer than the previous year's 59, but posted a .271 batting average with two home runs and nine RBI.

In 2010, Hirata spent most of the season in the minor leagues, unable to secure a regular spot against the competition from rookie Yohei Oshima and second-year player Kei Nomoto. He also failed to make an impact in the 2010 Japan Series. In the offseason, his jersey number was changed from 8 to 40, as Oshima took over the number 8 after Akira Nishikawa's departure.

3.2. Breakthrough and Establishing Role (2011-2014)

The 2011 season marked a significant turning point in Hirata's career. Although he started the season in the minor leagues, he was promoted to the first squad on May 5. On May 18, he hit a game-tying home run against the Chiba Lotte Marines, and on May 22, he recorded his first career four-hit game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. His momentum continued into June; on June 4, against the Saitama Seibu Lions, he delivered a game-tying hit in the bottom of the ninth inning and then hit his second career walk-off home run, a solo shot off Ryoma Nogami, in the bottom of the eleventh. Astonishingly, the very next day, June 5, against the Chiba Lotte Marines, he hit another walk-off home run off Yasuhiko Yabuta in the bottom of the ninth, marking his second consecutive walk-off homer. This feat made him only the eighth player in NPB history and the second in the Central League since Doug DeCinces in 1988 to hit walk-off home runs in consecutive games, and the first ever for the Chunichi Dragons. For his exceptional performance in June, he received his first Monthly MVP award, becoming the first Dragons position player to do so since Kazuhiro Wada in June 2009. The day after the Dragons clinched the league championship, on October 19, Hirata batted cleanup (fourth) for the first time in his professional career against the Yakult Swallows. Despite a slump in the latter half of the season, which included a month-long home run drought and fewer starts, he finished the year playing in 113 games, with a .255 batting average, 11 home runs, and 38 RBI. His defensive contributions were also notable, with eight assists, placing him third in the league, and he played a key role in the team's second consecutive league title.

In 2012, Hirata secured his first opening-day start and hit the team's first home run of the season on March 30. He primarily batted seventh but occasionally moved to third in the lineup due to an injury to Masahiko Morino. However, in May, he suffered an acute lower back injury and was demoted to the minor leagues. He ended the season with 11 home runs, the same as the previous year, but his batting average dropped to .216, and his number of games played also decreased. In the offseason, his salary was reduced by 1.00 M JPY to 29.00 M JPY.

The 2013 season saw Hirata make the opening-day roster again, but he soon lost his starting position to Yusuke Matsui and was demoted after going hitless in 33 at-bats. He was recalled on May 10, and while he struggled initially, he had a breakout performance on June 23 against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome, hitting a go-ahead solo home run (his first of the season) in the second inning and a decisive three-run home run in the seventh. These two home runs accounted for half of the team's four home runs in that game, a first for the Dragons in three years, contributing to their victory. He subsequently established himself as the regular right fielder, finishing the season with career highs in batting average (.289), home runs (15), and RBI (55), despite not reaching the required plate appearances for official qualification. In November, he was selected to represent Japan in the "2013 Baseball Challenge Japan vs. Chinese Taipei" in Taiwan. It was also announced that he would change his jersey number to 6, a number that became available after Hirokazu Ibata's departure and was famously worn by former Dragons manager Hiromitsu Ochiai.

In 2014, Hirata began the season as the fixed cleanup hitter and right fielder during exhibition games. He started the regular season strongly but his good form didn't last, and he was moved down to the sixth spot during interleague play. On June 27, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he suffered a left ankle sprain while chasing a foul ball, which kept him out of action for approximately a month. Despite the injury, he managed to reach the required plate appearances for official qualification for the first time in his nine-year professional career.

3.3. Peak Performance and Team Leadership (2015-2018)

The period from 2015 to 2018 marked the peak of Ryōsuke Hirata's professional playing career, where he solidified his role as a star player and a team leader.

On July 16, 2015, Hirata was announced as a preliminary candidate for the first-ever 2015 WBSC Premier12 Japan national team, with his selection confirmed for the final 28-man roster on October 9. On November 26, at the team's awards ceremony, manager Motohiro Tanishige appointed Hirata as the team captain for the upcoming season, making him the first Chunichi Dragons player to hold that title since Toru Nimura in 1994. That year, Hirata also received his first Best Nine Award as an outfielder.

In 2016, he was selected to the Japan national team for the "Samurai Japan Exhibition Game Japan vs. Chinese Taipei" on February 15. On June 18, in a game against the Nippon-Ham Fighters at Nagoya Dome, he hit his 10th home run of the season, marking his sixth consecutive year with double-digit home runs. However, on September 14, he was removed from the first squad due to a right shoulder injury. Although he qualified for free agency during the season, he publicly announced on November 5 that he would not exercise his free agency rights and would remain with the Dragons.

In 2017, Hirata was called up to the Japan national team for the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where he played in two games. During the regular season, he was plagued by a right knee injury, which limited him to just 66 games.

The 2018 season was one of Hirata's most outstanding. Despite a slow start, he recorded a remarkable .431 batting average in May, and at one point, even led the league in batting average, competing closely with teammate Dayan Viciedo. Often batting leadoff, he achieved a rare feat on August 16 against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Nagoya Dome: he hit for the cycle. After leading off the game with a home run, he followed with two doubles, a triple, and a single in subsequent at-bats, becoming the 68th player in NPB history and the fourth of the season to accomplish this. He finished the season with a career-high .329 batting average and received his first Mitsui Golden Glove Award.

3.4. Challenges and Injuries (2019-2021)

From 2019 to 2021, Ryōsuke Hirata faced a period marked by persistent injuries and a decline in his playing opportunities and performance.

In 2019, he primarily played as the leadoff hitter. On May 17, he was removed from a game due to discomfort in his left leg, and subsequent examinations revealed a left calf strain, leading to his demotion. On July 20, in a game against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium, he hit a solo home run off Kenta Ishida in the fourth inning, marking his 100th career home run. However, on August 14, he was hit by a pitch on his right wrist during a game against the Hanshin Tigers and had to leave the game. Although X-rays showed no bone damage, he was demoted on August 21 to focus on treatment. He returned to the first squad on September 10 and played through the rest of the season, finishing with 95 games played.

The 2020 season began with Hirata on the opening-day roster, but his struggles at the plate were evident, with a .164 batting average and only one hit in 18 at-bats by June 24, leading to him being benched. His hitting woes continued, and he developed right elbow pain, resulting in his demotion on July 20. He was recalled on August 23 and immediately made an impact with a two-run double against the DeNA BayStars at Nagoya Dome. On September 9, in a game against the Yomiuri Giants at Nagoya Dome, he achieved his 1,000th career hit with a double. On September 21, he recorded four hits in a game against the Yakult Swallows, his first such performance in a year. However, he was demoted again on September 26 due to lower body conditioning issues. He returned to the first squad on October 29 but finished the season with only 55 games played due to his two stints on the injured list.

In 2021, Hirata made the opening-day roster but continued to struggle offensively, batting only .155 with no home runs and four RBI in 21 games, leading to his demotion on April 28. While adjusting in the minor leagues, he fell ill on July 4 and was diagnosed with bronchial asthma and a type of variant angina. These health issues severely limited his playing time, resulting in a career-low 21 games played in the first squad since becoming a regular. Following the completion of his five-year contract, his annual salary was substantially reduced by 150.00 M JPY, bringing it down to an estimated 30.00 M JPY.

3.5. Final Season and Retirement (2022)

The 2022 season marked Ryōsuke Hirata's last as a professional baseball player. He began the season on the opening-day roster, primarily used as a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner. However, on May 10, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the injured list. He returned to the first squad on July 12 and, on July 16, hit his first home run in two years against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium. He was demoted again on September 19. As the season drew to a close, it became clear that he was not part of the Dragons' plans for the next year. On October 4, he received a release notification from the team. Wishing to continue his career in NPB, he chose free agency rather than retirement. Despite receiving offers from independent leagues and amateur baseball teams, he remained steadfast in his desire to play only in NPB. With no offers from NPB clubs, Hirata announced his retirement from professional baseball on December 28, bringing an end to his 17-year career.

4.1. Transition to Amateur Baseball

On January 29, 2023, following his departure from the Chunichi Dragons, Hirata appeared on a YouTube channel, announcing his decision to transition to amateur baseball, specifically softball. He joined the "Ace Factory Baseball Club," a team based in Osaka, having been invited by his childhood friend Kohei Mantani. On February 3, 2023, it was publicly announced that Hirata had regained his student baseball qualification, allowing him to potentially coach or instruct at the high school or university level in the future. A retirement ceremony for Hirata was held on March 18, 2023, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya after an exhibition game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, where he expressed his gratitude to the fans for his "desperate professional baseball life" and shed tears. In parallel with his amateur playing, he also began working as a baseball commentator for TBS Channel.

4.2. Return to Chunichi Dragons as Coach

In a significant development, it was announced on November 29, 2024, that Ryōsuke Hirata would be returning to his former team, the Chunichi Dragons, as a coach for the 2025 season. He was appointed as the second squad outfield defense and baserunning coach, taking on the jersey number 79. This return marks a new chapter in his career, allowing him to contribute his extensive experience and knowledge to the development of the team's younger players.

6.1. Family and Hobbies

Hirata is an avid fan of manga, reading both shōnen (boys') and shōjo (girls') genres. His family home in Osaka housed a collection of approximately 900 manga volumes, and he brought about 200 of his favorites, including *Dokaben* and *Suzuka*, with him when he entered the Dragons' dormitory. He is also a dedicated gamer, particularly enjoying simulation and sports titles such as *Minna no Golf*, *Winning Eleven*, and the *Jikkyō Powerful Pro Baseball* series. He claimed to have achieved a national ranking of 151st in online *Winning Eleven* matches and to have reached the top 30 in *Jikkyō Powerful Pro Baseball*. In *Winning Eleven*, he preferred playing with weaker teams, such as FC Copenhagen, believing it allowed him to earn more points, and frequently used a defensive "6-3-1" formation.

Hirata married in May 2010, and his first son was born in December of the same year. In 2013, his first daughter was born. His wife's influence led him to become a fan of the Japanese idol group Momoiro Clover Z, whose songs he began using as his walk-up music in 2013. Growing up near Osaka Dome, he was a fan of the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes as a child and admired Norihiro Nakamura, even admitting he almost called him "Nori" (Nakamura's nickname) during Nakamura's time with the Dragons. In 2009, he formed a trio called "Curiosity" with fellow Osaka Toin High School alumni Tsuyoshi Nishioka (then with the Chiba Lotte Marines) and Sho Nakata (then with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters) during their offseason training. The name "Curiosity" was a playful nod to Nishioka's "goofball" persona on a variety show, as Hirata said, "Nishioka-san is more natural than a goofball... so we'll go with Curiosity, not Shuchishin (a popular idol group known for being "ashamed")." The three shared the common background of being high school cleanup hitters and first-round professional draft picks.

Hirata was known for his memorable post-game hero interviews, often incorporating lighthearted "sake jokes." After hitting two consecutive walk-off home runs in 2011, he humorously advised fans to "refrain from alcohol" on the first day due to a daytime game the next day, and on the second day, encouraged them to "drink plenty of alcohol" because the next game was at night, asking them to "sober up by 6 PM tomorrow and cheer." This "sake joke" was later adopted by other Dragons players in their own hero interviews.

Regarding his jersey number 6, which he wore from 2014, he initially claimed ignorance of its significance (that it was previously worn by Hiromitsu Ochiai). He stated, "I chose it because I liked the number. I want to make it my own number 6." During a radio appearance, he revealed that former GM Ochiai had initially offered him number 9, but he declined, citing that fellow outfielder Kei Nomoto had worn it the previous year. When asked his preferred number, he said 6, to which Ochiai reportedly asked, "Do you know who wore that number?"

From 2015, Hirata, alongside newly joined players Kyohei Kamezawa and Issei Endo, played a significant role as a mood-maker for the team. Hirata initiated the idea of performing celebratory gestures towards the broadcast camera after runs were scored, aiming to please fans, with Kamezawa and later Endo joining in.

In 2015, on August 1, Hirata hit a massive home run at Tokyo Dome that directly struck the Kirin Ichiban Shibori billboard in the left field stands. For this feat, Kirin Beer Marketing Co., Ltd., awarded him 1.00 M JPY in prize money and a one-year supply of "Kirin Ichiban Shibori" beer. In the 2018 offseason, Hirata purchased a "new-old" Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge, which has a new vehicle price of 39.70 M JPY. He stated that his desire to own a luxury car stemmed from seeing Tsuyoshi Shinjo's Ferrari as a child, thinking, "I'll definitely drive a luxury car if I become a professional baseball player." The car was widely reported in media as costing 50.00 M JPY. After his retirement from professional baseball, he revealed on a TBS television program on May 28, 2023, that he had sold the Rolls-Royce, stating that he no longer needed to "keep up appearances."

6.2. Shogi Achievements

Beyond baseball and other hobbies, Ryōsuke Hirata has a notable interest and talent in shogi (Japanese chess). On December 20, 2020, he participated in a "Professional Baseball x Shogi Special" broadcast on Nico Nico Live, competing in the "Pro Baseball Strongest Shogi King Tournament" against three other shogi-loving professional baseball players (Yoshihiro Maru, Norichika Yasuda, and Tomochika Saito). Hirata won the tournament and was awarded the title of "Kyū-ō" (Ball King).

His contributions to shogi continued into 2021. On December 12, he appeared in the "Professional Baseball x Shogi Special 2021" on Nico Nico Live. For his previous victory and his efforts in promoting shogi culture, Akira Watanabe Meijin of the Japan Shogi Association awarded Hirata a shogi first dan certificate. In the "2nd Pro Baseball Strongest Shogi King Tournament," with an increased number of participants, Hirata advanced to the final and successfully defended his "Kyū-ō" title by defeating Naoto Nishiguchi of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

8.1. Firsts and Career Milestones

• First appearance: August 26, 2006, against the Yokohama BayStars at Nagoya Dome (as a pinch-hitter)
• First at-bat: August 26, 2006, against the Yokohama BayStars at Nagoya Dome (groundout)
• First starting lineup appearance: October 4, 2007, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Nagoya Dome (as 7th batter, center fielder)
• First RBI: October 4, 2007, against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Nagoya Dome (hit-by-pitch)
• First hit: October 6, 2007, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium (right field RBI single)
• First home run: September 7, 2008, against the Yokohama BayStars at Nagoya Dome (pinch-hit walk-off solo home run off Yokoyama Michiya) - 7th player in NPB history to hit first career home run as a pinch-hit walk-off.
• First stolen base: August 18, 2011, against the Yomiuri Giants at Nagoya Dome (stole second base)
• 1,000 games played: September 24, 2018, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Nagoya Dome (started as 1st batter, right fielder) - 495th player in NPB history.
• 100 home runs: July 20, 2019, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium (left field solo home run off Kenta Ishida) - 294th player in NPB history.
• 1,000 hits: September 9, 2020, against the Yomiuri Giants at Nagoya Dome (left-center field double off Kazuto Taguchi) - 307th player in NPB history.

8.2. Other Notable Records

• 2 consecutive walk-off home runs:
  • June 4, 2011, against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Nagoya Dome (center field solo home run off Ryoma Nogami in 11th inning)
  • June 5, 2011, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Nagoya Dome (right field solo home run off Yasuhiko Yabuta in 9th inning)
  • This is the 8th time in NPB history, 6th time in the Central League history, and a professional baseball record (first since Kazuo Matsui of Seibu in 2002).
• Cycle hit: August 16, 2018, against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Nagoya Dome - 68th player in NPB history.
• All-Star Game appearances: 2 times (2015, 2018)

12.1. Web TV

• "Professional Baseball x Shogi Special: Pro Baseball Strongest Shogi King Tournament" (December 20, 2020, Nico Nico Live; streamed on YouTube in two parts in February 2021)

12.2. Stage

• Aozora Melodies ~2nd melody~ (July 27, 2024, Shinjuku Mura LIVE)