Sports · Baseball · 3 hrs ago
Orix pitcher Hitomi Honda announces retirement at 27
Orix pitcher Hitomi Honda has retired at 27 after the team accepted his request to leave professional baseball.
On August 22, a batted ball struck the right side of his neck during a game against SoftBank, and he had to leave the field.
Doctors diagnosed a right vertebral artery dissection, an injury to a blood vessel in his neck.
Honda said he had decided after much thought and felt at peace with his choice.
Drafted by Orix in 2018, he overcame an elbow injury and returned from the team's development roster to the main roster.
He appeared in 42 top-league games in 2022 and helped Orix win the Japan Series that year.
His retirement ends a career marked by injuries and a major team achievement, and no further plans were announced.
Orix Buffaloes pitcher Hitomi Honda announced his retirement on October 30 at age 27.
The club said it had accepted Honda’s request to retire.
Honda said he made the decision after careful thought and had no regrets.
He was diagnosed with a right vertebral artery dissection after a batted ball struck his neck during a game on August 22.
Honda made 98 appearances in the first team, recording six wins, six losses, two saves and 30 holds.
- Who
- Hitomi Honda, a 27-year-old pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes.
- What
- He announced his retirement, and Orix accepted his request.
- When
- October 30, 2026.
- Where
- Orix made the announcement in Japan. The injury happened at Mizuho PayPay Dome.
- Why
- Honda said he decided to retire after careful thought. The sources do not say whether the injury caused his decision.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Honda joined Orix after being selected in the fourth round of the draft.
He appeared in a career-high 42 first-team games and helped Orix win the Japan Series.
A batted ball struck Honda on the right side of his neck during a relief appearance against SoftBank, and he left the game.
Honda was diagnosed at a hospital in Osaka with a right vertebral artery dissection.
Orix announced it had accepted Honda’s request to retire.
- Age
- 27
- Draft
- Fourth round, 2018
- Career first-team appearances
- 98
- Career record
- 6 wins, 6 losses, 2 saves and 30 holds
- Diagnosis
- Right vertebral artery dissection
- Retirement announcement
- October 30, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I decided to retire after much thought. I have no regrets now, and I feel at peace.