Kazuhiro Kiyohara | |
---|---|
Infielder | |
Born: | August 18, 1967|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
NPB debut | |
April 5, 1986, for the Seibu Lions | |
Last appearance | |
October 1, 2008, for the Orix Buffaloes | |
NPB statistics (through 2008) | |
Batting average | .272 |
Hits | 2,122 |
Home runs | 525 |
RBI | 1,530 |
Teams | |
As Player | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Kazuhiro Kiyohara (清原 和博, Kiyohara Kazuhiro, born August 18, 1967) is a Japanese television personality, YouTuber and former professional baseball player. He played in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league for 23 seasons. He retired following the 2008 season.
Born in Kishiwada, Osaka in 1967, his family were baseball fans. He began his career when he joined his high school baseball team in the 1980s that subsequently won two Japanese High School Baseball Championships. He became a widely respected high school player and was selected by Seibu Lions in 1985. During his time in Lions, the team won six Japan Series titles and he tied the rookie HR record for Japanese professional baseball. In 1996, he joined the Yomiuri Giants, and was an integral part of their 2000 and 2002 Japan Series championship squads. He later joined the Orix Buffaloes, before retiring in 2008. He has been dubbed "The Uncrowned King" as he never won a major batting title, despite being widely regarded as one of NPB's greatest hitters.
In 2014, Kiyohara was hospitalized after an alleged illegal drug abuse. At first he denied the allegation, after which he was divorced by his wife Aki Kimura due to domestic violence. After a lengthy investigation, in 2016, Kiyohara tested positive for stimulants and was subsequently arrested and given a suspended prison sentence.
After being cast out from television for his conviction, he became a YouTuber posting videos about baseball and weight loss.