It was just before Christmas w 2017 that news broke of the Diamondbacks signing Japanese relief pitcher, Yoshihisa Hirano, to a two-year, $6 million deal. At the time, he was closer in the NPB for the Orix Buffaloes, having saved 156 games for them since making his debut as a 22-year-old in 2006. He joined closer Brad Boxberger as off-season acquisitions last winter, intended to strengthen the back of the Arizona bullpen, and build on the wild-card success of 2017. While things overall did not work out quite as the team hoped in 2018, little if any of the blame for that should go to Hirano, who delivered one of the best rookie seasons by a reliever in franchise history.
AZ SnakePit 2018 Awards: Rookie of the year, Yoshihisa Hirano
