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Hirotoshi Ishii (石井 弘寿, born September 14, 1977) is a Japanese baseball player. He currently plays as a relief pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.

Hirotoshi Ishii
Tokyo Yakult Swallows – No. 98
Pitcher / Pitching coach
Born: (1977-09-14) September 14, 1977 (age 45) Ichihara, Chiba
Batted: Left Threw: Left
NPB debut
July 6, 1996, for the Yakult Swallows
Last NPB appearance
October 25, 2011, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
NPB statistics (through 2011 season)
Win–loss	27-15
ERA	2.66
Strikeouts	485
Saves	55
Teams
As player Yakult Swallows/Tokyo Yakult Swallows (1996–2011) As coach Tokyo Yakult Swallows (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards
Central League Most Valuable Setup Pitcher (2002)
Medals Representing  Japan Men's Baseball Athens 2004 Team Competition World Baseball Classic 2006 San Diego Team

He has repeatedly expressed a desire to play in the majors, and several teams have shown an interest in the left-hander. The Swallows were reluctant to release Ishii in the 2005 off-season, but promised they would allow him to come to the majors if he was able to play another full season in Japan (a similar promise was made to Akinori Iwamura, who signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays). Ishii was expected to sign with a major league team during the 2006 off-season, but injured his left shoulder, and decided to remain with the Swallows.

He joined the Japanese national baseball team for the 2004 Summer Olympics, and won a bronze medal.

External links

• Career statistics

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