08/18/2008 Orix slugger Kiyohara to retire

Injury-prone Orix Buffaloes slugger Kazuhiro Kiyohara said
Monday he will retire at the end of the season.

Kiyohara, fifth on the all-time home run list in Japanese
baseball with 525, made the announcement after the game between Orix
and his old team, the Seibu Lions, on his 41st birthday at Seibu Dome.

''I'm thankful that I had my birthday at Seibu Dome in my last
season,'' Kiyohara said. ''I'm grateful that they showed pictures of
my old days at the stadium and this is a day I will never forget for
the rest of my life.''

Kiyohara started his career with the Lions in 1986 and moved to
the Yomiuri Giants after the 1996 season. He then joined Orix in 2006
but his career at the Pacific League club has been plagued with
injures.

Kiyohara underwent knee surgery twice last year and made his
first top-team appearance in two years on Aug. 3.

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