This file photo taken in April 2021 shows Hirokazu Sawamura pitching for the Boston Red Sox against the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning on Opening Day at Fenway Park in Boston. (Getty/Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japanese pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura announced his retirement on social media Friday following a 15-year professional baseball career featuring stints with the Boston Red Sox, Yomiuri Giants and Lotte Marines.
“It’s time to accept that my career is nearing its end and to say goodbye,” the 37-year-old right-hander posted on Instagram.
Sawamura debuted for the Giants in 2011 as their top draft pick and was named Central League Rookie of the Year after earning 11 wins that season.
After transitioning to the Giants’ closer, he led the league with 37 saves in 2016.
Sawamura joined the Marines in 2020 before making the move to Major League Baseball with the Red Sox the following year.
He appeared in 104 MLB games over two seasons for Boston, going 6-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 103-2/3 innings pitched.
The Tochigi Prefecture native returned to Lotte in 2023 and remained with the Pacific League club until last year.
He played a total of 445 Nippon Professional Baseball Games with a 53-58 record and a 2.88 ERA.