Hideki Asai (朝井 秀樹, Asai Hideki; born January 1, 1984) is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and Yomiuri Giants.
Personal Information
- Born: January 1, 1984, in Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Japan
- Bats: Right, Throws: Right
- Height: 177 cm (5 ft 10 in), Weight: 82 kg (181 lb)
NPB Career Asai made his NPB debut on September 24, 2003, for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. He played for the Buffaloes from 2002 to 2004 before moving to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2005–2010). His most productive season was 2007, when he posted an 8–8 record with a 3.12 ERA over 31 appearances (17 starts) and recorded 107 strikeouts. In 2008, he made 29 appearances (23 starts) and went 9–11 with a 4.38 ERA. He finished his NPB career with the Yomiuri Giants (2010–2012), making his last appearance on October 5, 2010.
Career NPB Statistics
- Win–loss record: 25–33
- Earned run average: 4.09
- Strikeouts: 378
- Saves: 0
- Holds: 4
Teams
- Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes (2002–2004)
- Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2005–2010)
- Yomiuri Giants (2010–2012)
Note: There is also a separate individual named Hideki Asai (浅井 秀樹), a professor of electrical engineering at Shizuoka University, specializing in circuit simulation, neural networks, and signal/power integrity. These are two distinct individuals sharing the same name.
