Norichika Aoki

Full name is Norichika Aoki, pronounced noer-EECH-kuh AH-oh-kee. Attended Waseda University in Toyko, Japan...was teammates with former Cubs pitcher LHP Tsuyoshi Wada, who spent the 2016 season with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Nori's wife, Sachi, was a popular sports anchor for TV Tokyo from 2006-2010. Spent his first eight professional baseball seasons in the Japan Central League, playing for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows from 2004- 2011...was a three-time batting champion in 2005 (.344, 2007 (.346) and 2010 (.358). Participated in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics, batting .310 (13-for-42) with eight RBI...competed for Japan in the 2008 Summer Olympics...hit a three-run homer off Brett Anderson in the Bronze Medal Game against the United States; however, the U.S. won 8-4. Claimed off waivers from Seattle on Nov. 3, 2016...agreed to terms on a one-year contract that runs through the 2017 season on Nov. 30.

In his lone season in Seattle, hit .283 (118-for-417) with 63 runs, 24 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 28 RBI and a .349 on-base percentage in 118 games...he hit .245 (61-for-249) before the All-Star Break, but .339 (57-for-168) afterwards...his batting average after the break was second-best in the American League during that span trailing only Miguel Cabrera (.346, 90-for-260)...became the 11th different Mariners player (previously accomplished 19 times) to hit .330 or better (min. 150 AB) after the All-Star Break...of those 11 players, Aoki became just the second Mariner to hit better than .330 in the second half after batting .250 or worse before the break...he joined Bret Boone, who hit .229 (75-for-328) before the 2002 All-Star Break, but .336 (94-for-280) afterwards...hit 24 doubles, good for second-most in his career (37, 2012 with Milwaukee)...his 16 doubles after the All-Star Break led the club...overall, hit .300 (96-for-320) vs. right-handed pitchers but just .227 (22-for-97) vs. lefties...from July 20 through the end of the season, hit .444 (8-for-18) vs. LHP...made a career-high 14 starts in center field (previous: 13, 2012 w/MIL)...hit .369 (24-for-65) with 15 runs, six doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI in 19 games in September...his .369 average was third-best in the American League during the month... opened the season on Seattle's roster...was optioned to Triple A Tacoma on June 24, and was recalled on July 20...was optioned again on Aug. 26, and was recalled on Sept. 6, where he remained through the end of the season...recorded a season-high eight-game hitting streak from April 5-13, batting .313 (10-for-32) with two runs, two doubles and one RBI during the streak...drew 17 walks over 19 games from April 22-May 13...recorded each of his six multi-walk games during that span...recorded 40 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout from May 18-May 30...hit his first home run with the Mariners on May 28 vs. Minnesota...became the fourth player in club history whose first home run with the club was a leadoff home run, joining Jack Perconte (5/17/85 vs. BAL), Rickey Henderson (5/20/2000 vs. TB) and Austin Jackson (4/19/15 vs. TEX)...recorded two hits at Tropicana Field on June 14 at Tampa Bay, officially giving him a hit at all 30 current Major League ballparks... optioned to Triple A Tacoma on June 24 for the first of two stints with the Rainiers...from June 28-July 19, hit .361 (22-for-61) with 13 runs, three doubles and three RBI in 15 games...optioned to Tacoma on Aug. 27 (post-game 8/26) and hit .226 (7-for-31) with four runs, one double, one home run and three RBI in eight games from Aug. 29 - Sept. 5...overall, hit .323 (31-for-96) with 17 runs, 5 doubles, one home run, and seven RBI in 24 games with Tacoma.

Totals - Hit .287 (102x355) with 42 runs, 12 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 26 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 93 games with San Francisco. ... DL - On disabled list twice and missed total of 63 games due to fractured right fibula (6/24-7/27) and concussion (8/13-20) that lingered through Aug. and most of Sept. ... Defense - Appeared in 93 games, 85 starts (82 in LF, 2 in RF, 1 as DH). ... Injuries - Missed 28 games after he suffered fractured right fibula June 20 at Los Angeles (NL) when he was hit by a pitch… after rehab stint with AAA Sacramento, was activated July 27, but appeared in just 13 games before suffering a concussion. ... Concussion - Left game Aug. 9 at Chicago (NL) after being struck in helmet by pitch from Jake Arrieta…left game under own power and started three days later, but was removed from game Aug. 12 after experiencing dizziness and nausea…removed from DL and appeared in 13 games before season ended due to post concussion symptoms Sept. 5.

Nori got off to a slow start, but finished strong in his first season with the Royals...hit .285 with 22 doubles, six triples, a homer and 63 runs scored...Batted .379 (33-for-87) over the month of September, third-highest in the American League...his .432 OBP over the final month also ranked fourth in the A.L...his September batting average was his highest in a month since coming over from Japan prior to the 2012 season...Ranked fifth in the Major Leagues (third in the A.L.) with a .363 batting average (45-for-124) against left-handed pitching...it was also the highest average in baseball vs. lefties by a left-handed hitter...over his three seasons in the big leagues, Nori's .319 average against southpaws is 19th in the Majors...Set a club record with 11 hits in a series against the White Sox (September 15-17), going 11-for-13...also drew a pair of walks to reach base 13 times in the series, the first Major Leaguer to do this since Kevin Kouzmanoff did it (11 hits, walk, HBP) at Milwaukee, August 11-13, 2009... recorded consecutive four-hit games to open the series, becoming the first Royal to do that since Mark Teahen, August 22-23, 2006 vs. Cleveland...Became the third Royals player to record two outfield assists in an inning, August 8 vs. San Francisco, throwing out Hunter Pence at third base and Joaquin Arias at the plate in the third...Amos Otis (April 25, 1970 vs. Baltimore) and Bob Oliver (September 16, 1969 vs. Seattle) were the other Royals to do this...Hit his first career grand slam August 5 at Arizona, which was also his only HR of the year...also collected his second career walk-off hit on July 24 to beat Cleveland (2-1) with an RBI single in the 14th inning...Missed 18 games (June 21-July 11) with a strained left groin muscle and had a two-game rehab stint at Northwest Arkansas (AA).