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{{Short description|Japanese baseball player (born 1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name           = Norichika Aoki<br />青木 宣親
|image          = Gk ryoDSC 8882 (cropped).jpg
|image_size     = 240
|caption        = Aoki with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2018
|position       = [[Outfielder]]
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1982|1|5}}
|birth_place    = [[Hyūga, Miyazaki]], [[Japan]]
|bats           = Left
|throws         = Right
|debutleague    = NPB
|debutdate      = July 17
|debutyear      = 2004
|debutteam      = Yakult Swallows
|debut2league   = MLB
|debut2date     = April 6
|debut2year     = 2012
|debut2team     = Milwaukee Brewers
|finalleague    = NPB
|finaldate      = October 5
|finalyear      = 2024
|finalteam      = Tokyo Yakult Swallows
|final2league   = MLB
|final2date     = October 1
|final2year     = 2017
|final2team     = New York Mets
|statleague     = NPB
|stat1label     = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value     = .313
|stat2label     = [[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value     = 1,956
|stat3label     = [[Home run]]s
|stat3value     = 145
|stat4label     = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value     = 667
|stat5label     = [[Stolen base]]s
|stat5value     = 177
|stat2league    = MLB
|stat21label    = Batting average
|stat21value    = .285
|stat22label    = Hits
|stat22value    = 774
|stat23label    = Home runs
|stat23value    = 33
|stat24label    = Runs batted in
|stat24value    = 219
|stat25label    = Stolen bases
|stat25value    = 98
|teams          = 
*[[Tokyo Yakult Swallows|Yakult Swallows/Tokyo Yakult Swallows]] ({{npby|2004}}–{{npby|2011}})
*[[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})
*[[Kansas City Royals]] ({{mlby|2014}})
*[[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|2015}})
*[[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|2016}})
*[[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|2017}})
*[[Toronto Blue Jays]] ({{mlby|2017}})
*[[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|2017}})
*[[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]] ({{npby|2018}}–{{npby|2024}})
|awards         = 
;NPB
* [[Japan Series]] Champion ([[2021 Japan Series|2021]])
* 8× [[Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game|NPB All-Star]] (2005–2011, 2018)
* 7× [[Best Nine Award]] (2005&ndash;{{npby|2011}})
* 7× [[Mitsui Golden Glove Award]] (2006&ndash;{{npby|2011}}, {{npby|2020}})
* 3× CL batting champion (2005, 2007, 2010)
* 2× NPB All-Star Game [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] (2006 Game 1, 2009 Game 1)
* [[Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|CL Rookie of the Year]] {{npby|2005}} 
* NPB CL [[stolen base]] leader (2006)
* [[Meikyukai]] (2017)
;NPB record
* .328 lifetime NPB batting average (highest among qualified batters)
;International
* [[World Baseball Classic#All-WBC teams|All-World Baseball Classic Team]] ([[2009 World Baseball Classic|2009]])
|medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{JPN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Baseball Classic]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2006 World Baseball Classic|2006 San Diego]] | [[Japan national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[2009 World Baseball Classic|2009 Los Angeles]] | [[Japan national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Norichika "Nori" Aoki'''|青木 宣親|Aoki Norichika|extra=born January 5, 1982}} is a Japanese former professional [[baseball]] [[outfielder]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], [[Kansas City Royals]], [[San Francisco Giants]], [[Seattle Mariners]], [[Houston Astros]], [[Toronto Blue Jays]], and [[New York Mets]], and in [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] (NPB) for the [[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]].

Aoki is one of only six players, alongside [[Ichiro Suzuki]], [[Matt Murton]], [[Alex Ramirez]], [[Tsuyoshi Nishioka]], and [[Shogo Akiyama]], to amass 200 or more [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] in a single [[Season (sports)|season]] in [[Nippon Professional Baseball|Japanese professional baseball]], and the only individual to do so in two separate seasons. He played in the [[2006 World Baseball Classic|2006]] and [[2009 World Baseball Classic|2009]] [[World Baseball Classic]]s as well as the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]], and represented [[Japan national baseball team#2017|Japan in the 2017 World Baseball Classic]].

==Early life and amateur career==
Aoki was born in [[Hyūga, Miyazaki]], and attended Hyuga [[Municipality|Municipal]] Hichiya Elementary School and Tomishima Junior High School before going on to [[Miyazaki Prefecture|Miyazaki Prefectural]] Hyuga High School. Surprisingly, he was a [[pitcher]] throughout [[Middle school|junior high]] and high school, converting to the [[Outfield#In cricket and baseball|outfield]] only upon entering [[Waseda University]] where he majored in [[human sciences]].

Aoki was surrounded by a remarkable concentration of talent at Waseda: his year included [[shortstop]] [[Takashi Toritani]] (currently with the [[Chiba Lotte Marines]]), [[third baseman]] Toshimitsu Higa ([[Hiroshima Toyo Carp]]) and [[center fielder]] [[Shintaro Yoshida]] ([[Orix Buffaloes]]), all three of whom would later go on to the [[Professional baseball|pros]].<ref>[http://baseballguru.com/archives/entries/00000643.htm "Japanese Baseball News: Giants Get What They Want in Draft; Arias Out, Kinkade In?"] ''Baseball Guru''</ref> [[Left-handedness|Left-handed]] pitcher [[Tsuyoshi Wada]] ([[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks|Fukuoka Softbank Hawks]]) was one year his senior, and [[second baseman]] [[Hiroyasu Tanaka]] and [[first baseman]] [[Shinichi Takeuchi]], both of whom would later rejoin Aoki with the Swallows, were one and two years his junior, respectively.

The six [[Batting (baseball)|hitters]], who often batted in the order of Tanaka, Aoki, Toritani, Higa, Takeuchi and Yoshida, formed one of the most potent [[Batting order (baseball)|lineups]] in [[college baseball]] history and led Waseda to four consecutive [[Tokyo Big6 Baseball League|Tokyo Big6]] titles for the first time in the history of the university. Aoki hit .463 in the spring of his junior year (2002)<ref>[http://baseballguru.com/archives/entries/00000472.htm "Japanese Baseball News: Yomiuri, Yakult Sorting Out Draft Choices; Koshien Action"] ''Baseball Guru''</ref> and set a Tokyo Big6 record for [[Run (baseball)|runs]] scored in a single game with six in a game against the [[University of Tokyo]] that season, going 5-for-5 with five [[Run batted in|RBI]] and a [[Base on balls|walk]] in that same game. He hit .332 during his college career, albeit without a single [[home run]], and was selected to the Tokyo Big6 Best Nine Award three times in his eight seasons (spring and fall) with Waseda as the starting [[right fielder]]. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2003 NPB [[Draft (sports)|amateur draft]] by the Yakult Swallows.

==Professional career==
[[File:Norichika Aoki's hits by year.svg|300px|thumb|right|Aoki's hits by year. Aoki attained 2,000 career hits on June 11, 2017.]]

===Yakult Swallows===
[[File:YS-Norichika-Aoki.jpg|thumb|Aoki with the Swallows in 2008]]
In 2004, Aoki saw little playing time in his [[rookie]] season (2004), playing just 10 games at the ''ichigun'' (Japanese equivalent of "major league") level. However, he showed signs of promise in the [[Minor league|minors]], hitting .372 and leading the [[Eastern League (Japanese baseball)|Eastern League]] in both [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and [[on-base percentage]] (.436) and coming second in [[stolen base]]s (21). In the Fresh All-Star Game (the Japanese equivalent of the [[All-Star Futures Game]]) held that year, Aoki went 4-for-5, coming a home run short of the [[Hitting for the cycle|cycle]] and winning [[Most Valuable Player]] honors for the game.

In 2005, Aoki enjoyed a breakout year, earning the job of starting center fielder with the departure of [[Atsunori Inaba]]. While he struggled in the opening weeks of the season as the Swallows' [[Batting order (baseball)##2|No. 2 hitter]], [[Strikeout|striking out]] uncharacteristically often, he slowly began to collect hits at his usual pace and was promoted to the [[Leadoff hitter|leadoff]] role by June 2005. On October 6, 2005, he tied the Central League single-season hit record of 192 (set by [[Bobby Rose (baseball)|Robert Rose]] in 1999),<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20051007j1.html "Aoki sets CL hit mark"] ''The Japan Times''</ref> following up the feat by becoming the second player in NPB history (after [[Ichiro Suzuki]]) to record 200 hits in a single season, on October 11, 2005.

While Aoki missed Suzuki's NPB record for hits in a single season of 210, he finished with a league-record 202 hits (his 169 [[Single (baseball)|singles]] ''were'' an NPB single-season record).<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2002838040_aoki02.html "Done the Ichiro way"] ''The Seattle Times''</ref> He led all Central League players in batting average (.344) and hits, and was voted the league [[Nippon Professional Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Most Valuable Rookie]].

[[File:AokiNorichika01.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Aoki with the Swallows]]
In 2006, Aoki was chosen to play in the inaugural World Baseball Classic as a member of the [[Japan national baseball team|Japanese national team]] in 2006.<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20090322o3.html "Memory of 2006 game lives on, but Japan focuses on rematch with U.S."] – ''The Japan Times''.</ref> He made his second [[Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] appearance in July 2006 and was named the Most Valuable Player in Game 1 (held at his home park, [[Meiji Jingu Stadium]]), becoming the fourth player in NPB history to win both Fresh All-Star Game and All-Star Game MVP honors.

Though he came up short in his goal of reaching 200 base hits and winning the batting title for the second consecutive year, Aoki finished the season with 192 hits, leading both the Central and [[Pacific League|Pacific]] leagues. He cut down on his strikeouts and drew more walks than in the previous season, improving his on-base percentage from .387 to .396 despite a lower batting average.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mlb/asia/columns/story?columnist=neel_eric&id=2766756 "This is only the beginning"] ''ESPN''</ref> He also hit more home runs (13) and [[Run batted in|drove in]] more runs (62), leading the league in both average with runners in [[scoring position]] (.399) and stolen bases (41) for the first time (and putting an end to Tiger center fielder [[Norihiro Akahoshi]]'s five-year streak of leading the Central League in that category).

On December 25, 2006, Aoki publicly stated his intent to eventually play in the [[Major League Baseball|major leagues]] via the [[posting system]], saying, "…I would like to move to the majors after some years. It might be difficult to do so as a [[free agent]] since I'll be over 30 by then."<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20061227j6.html "Swallows' Aoki eyes major leagues"] ''The Japan Times''</ref> While major league teams expressed interest in Aoki (especially after seeing him in international play),<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20090324o2.html "Major league recruiters prepare for Asian invasion"] ''The Japan Times''</ref> the Swallows offered no indication of their willingness to comply with the request.<ref>[http://www.npbtracker.com/2008/12/10-years-for-aoki/ "10 Years for Aoki?"] ''NPB Tracker''</ref>

In 2007, Aoki and teammate and fellow outfielder [[Alex Ramírez]] competed for the batting title at a torrid pace throughout the 2007 season.<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20070909wg.html "Wild card quotes and oddities from Japanese baseball"] ''The Japan Times''</ref><ref>[http://yakyuushonen.blogspot.com/2007/09/norichika-aoki-and-alex-ramrez.html "Norichika Aoki and Alex Ramírez"] ''Yakyuu Shonen – Baseball Chat''</ref> On July 10, 2007, Aoki became the fastest player in Japanese professional baseball history to amass 500 career hits, doing so in 373 games. While he fell short of 200 base hits, partly due to the 80 walks (fourth in the league) that opposing pitchers issued to him, he finished second in the league in hits (to Ramírez, who hit safely 204 times, a new Central League record) with 193, winning his second batting title with a .346 average. Aoki also led the league in on-base percentage for the first time and scored 114 runs (his third consecutive season with 100 or more runs).

Meanwhile, his stolen base total dropped sharply from 41 to 17, a decline that could be attributed to then-[[player-manager]] [[Atsuya Furuta]]'s placing Hiroyasu Tanaka (rather than [[Adam Riggs]], as was the case in 2006), a second baseman with little power, behind Aoki in the 2-hole and instructing him to [[Sacrifice bunt|bunt]] often. On the other hand, Aoki began to show legitimate power, hitting 20 home runs and [[Slugging percentage|slugged]] over .500 for the first time. He was slotted into both the 2- and [[Batting order (baseball)##3|3-hole]] numerous times and even hit [[Cleanup hitter|cleanup]] in Furuta's retirement game as a player on October 7, 2007.

Aoki played in the [[Asian Baseball Championship]] as a member of the Japanese national team in December 2007, helping Japan clinch a berth in the upcoming [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympics]].

On May 5, 2008, Aoki was scratched from the lineup and sent down to the minors due to an [[Abdominal internal oblique muscle|oblique]] [[Strain (injury)|strain]]. It was his first time missing playing time due to injury since his debut at the ''ichigun'' level. However, he returned some three weeks later on May 29, 2008, engaging in another race for the batting title, this time with [[Yokohama BayStars]] [[left fielder]] [[Seiichi Uchikawa]].<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20080914n1.html "Buffs flexing muscles as stretch run begins"] ''The Japan Times''</ref>

In August 2008, Aoki was chosen to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics along with teammate [[Shinya Miyamoto]] as a member of the Japanese national team.<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20080712j1.html "Aoki makes big impact"] ''The Japan Times''</ref> After he returned to the Swallows, [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Shigeru Takada]] opted to use him in the 3-hole permanently, slotting newly acquired [[left fielder]] [[Kazuki Fukuchi]] into the leadoff role instead. While Aoki relinquished the league lead in both batting average and on-base percentage to Uchikawa, he finished the season with a personal-best batting average of .347, striking out just 47 times (fewest in the league among qualifying players) and swiping 31 bases (second to Fukuchi on the Swallows).

In 2009, Though he hit well in the second World Baseball Classic,<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20090308o1.html "Ichiro ends slump, Japan routs S. Korea"] ''The Japan Times''</ref> Aoki struggled in the opening weeks of the 2009 season, hitting just .233 with a .316 on-base percentage in April 2009. He got [[Hit by pitch|hit]] in the head by a [[Pitch (baseball)|pitch]] thrown by [[Chunichi Dragons]] [[Closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Hitoki Iwase]] on April 30, 2009, but was found to have no serious injuries upon diagnosis.

===Milwaukee Brewers===
The Swallows [[posting system|posted]] Aoki to [[Major League Baseball]] in the 2011–12 offseason. The [[Milwaukee Brewers]] won the posting and signed Aoki in January 2012 to a two-year contract with a third-year option.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7365232/milwaukee-brewers-claim-rights-sign-japan-star-norichika-aoki |title= Brewers win Norichika Aoki bid rights |work=ESPN.com |date=December 18, 2011 |access-date=December 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/MLB/status/159405184081076224 |title= MLB Twitter status announcing Aoki signing |publisher=Twitter |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=January 17, 2012}}</ref> He became the team's first Japanese player to be acquired through this process. Kosuke Inaji served as Aoki's interpreter throughout the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.todaystmj4.com/multimedia/videos/?bctid=1533335960001|title=Kosuke Inaji: Translator to the Brewers|work=[[WTMJ-TV]]|date=March 27, 2012|access-date=June 7, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Norichika Aoki on April 1, 2013.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Aoki with the [[2013 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers in 2013]]]]
Aoki's playing time greatly increased over the course of the season due to his fine play and the injuries sustained by many starters. In his first full season with Milwaukee, Aoki hit .288/.355/.433 with 10 home runs (one inside the park), 50 RBIs, and 81 runs scored in 520 at-bats, plus 30 stolen bases. By the latter half of the season, he was batting primarily in the leadoff position for the Brewers. Aoki also set the record for doubles in a single season (37) by a Brewers rookie.

On June 7, 2012, in a game against the [[Chicago Cubs]], Aoki hit his first out of the park home run in his MLB career. He then hit a second home run in the bottom of the tenth inning, breaking a 3–3 tie. It was his first career [[Walk-off home run|walk-off]], and his first career multi-home run game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/320607108 |title=Norichika Aoki homer in 10th launches Brewers past Cubs |website=[[ESPN]] |date=June 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112201314/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/320607108 |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shawlocal.com/2012/06/08/aokis-walk-off-home-run-lifts-brewers-over-cubs/a6k6n4e/ |title=Aoki's walk-off home run lifts Brewers over Cubs |author=Haudricourt, Tom |work=[[Shaw Media]] |date=June 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112225657/https://www.shawlocal.com/2012/06/08/aokis-walk-off-home-run-lifts-brewers-over-cubs/a6k6n4e/ |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the later portion of the season, Aoki has started to become a spark plug for the Brewers. He made great defensive plays<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=24685887&c_id=mlb|title=Aoki's Leaping Catch Robs Overbay of a Hit|work=[[MLB.com]]|date=September 9, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=23688839&c_id=mlb|title=Aoki Makes a Run-Saving Catch|work=[[MLB.com]]|date=August 7, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> and got big hits when they were needed, including a 2-out, 2-strike, 2-run home run on September 9, 2012, against St. Louis to tie the game and send it to extra innings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=24637829&c_id=mlb|title=Aoki Belts a Game Tying Shot in the Ninth|work=[[MLB.com]]|date=September 9, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> This game was needed by the Brewers to help push them toward a possible Wild Card berth.

On June 24, 2012, Aoki collected 3 hits and 4 stolen bases against the [[Chicago White Sox]]. The 4 stolen bases tied the Brewers franchise record.<ref name=MLB.com>{{cite web|title=Aoki's three hits|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/search/media.jsp?query=Norichika%20Aoki&start=13&trackVal=2&hitsPerPage=12&hitsPerSite=10&c_id=mlb|work=MLB.com|access-date=2012-06-25}}</ref>

In 151 games in 2012, he hit .288 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 37 doubles, 30 stolen bases (9th in the NL), and 43 walks, giving him a .355 on-base percentage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/norichika-aoki-493114|title=Norichika Aoki Stats, Fantasy & News|website=New York Mets}}</ref> He finished 5th in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Aoki was the Brewers Opening Day right fielder and leadoff hitter in 2013, and [[Logan Schafer]] was his main backup. In May 2013, he hit .343 with 6 RBI, bringing his season average to .299. After that, he had a steady decline until September 2013, when he hit .297 with 6 RBI and 15 walks. In 155 games, he hit .286 with 8 home runs, 37 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 55 walks, giving him a .356 on-base percentage.

===Kansas City Royals===
[[File:Norichika Aoki on April 26, 2014.jpg|thumb|Aoki with the Royals in 2014]]
On December 5, 2013, the Brewers traded Aoki to the [[Kansas City Royals]] for [[Will Smith (pitcher)|Will Smith]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/05/brewers-trade-norichika-aoki-to-royals-for-will-smith/|title=Brewers trade Norichika Aoki to Royals for Will Smith|work=HardballTalk|date=December 5, 2013|access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref> Aoki batted leadoff for the Royals for much of the [[2014 Kansas City Royals season|2014 season]]. For the season, he batted .285/.349/.360, in 491 at bats.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aokino01.shtml|title=Norichika Aoki Stats - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

On August 6, 2014, in a game against the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]], Aoki hit a grand slam in the fifth inning off of relief pitcher [[Bo Schultz]]. This was his first career grand slam, as well as his first (and only) homer with the Royals. Aoki also set a Royals franchise record, which was the most hits in a three-game series. He collected a total of 11 hits against the [[Chicago White Sox]] at [[Kauffman Stadium]], passing [[Willie Wilson (baseball)|Willie Wilson]] and [[George Brett]]'s former record of 10 hits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calltothepen.com/2014/09/17/nori-aoki-sets-royals-record-hits-three-game-series/|title=Nori Aoki sets Royals record for hits in a three-game series|work=Call to the Pen|date=September 17, 2014|access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref>

Aoki made his first postseason appearance as an MLB player with the Royals that year as they made the first Wild Card spot to host the [[2014 American League Wild Card Game]] against the [[Oakland Athletics]]. He scored the first run for the Royals after advancing on a force-out in the first inning that saw him steal second base and then advance on an RBI single. In a see-saw affair that saw the Royals go from leading 3–2 after three innings to trailing 7-3 leading into the eighth inning, Aoki proved key in the comeback. With a runner on third base and one out in the ninth after the Royals battled to trail 7–6, he hit a flyball deep enough in right field to score [[Jarrod Dyson]] to send the game into extras. Aoki was taken out of right field as the tenth started, but the Royals would win 9–8 in the twelfth inning, which was the first playoff victory for the Royals in 29 years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA201409300.shtml | title=2014 American League Wild Card (ALWC) Game 1, Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals: September 30, 2014 }}</ref> Aoki had just two further RBIs in the ensuing postseason run, which saw him play right field for the run to the American League pennant and most of the [[2014 World Series]]. In total, Aoki batted .195 as the Royals lost in the Series in seven games.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=aokino01&t=b&year=0&post=1 | title=Nori Aoki Postseason Batting Game Logs }}</ref>

===San Francisco Giants===
On January 19, 2015, Aoki signed a one-year deal with the [[San Francisco Giants]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacbee.com/sports/article7622375.html|title=Outfielder Nori Aoki finalizes 1-year deal with Giants}}</ref> On May 3, 2015, in a 5–0 win over the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]], Aoki led off the first inning with a solo home run against pitcher [[Jered Weaver]]. Following Aoki was teammate [[Joe Panik]] batting second, who homered as well. It was the first time since {{mlby|1964}} that the Giants had opened a game with consecutive home runs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gilmore|first1=Eric|title=Aoki, Panik power Giants to quick advantage|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/giants-nori-aoki-joe-panik-hit-back-to-back-leadoff-homers-vs-angels/c-122189852|website=MLB.com|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref>

On June 20, 2015, Aoki was hit by a pitch from [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodger]] [[Carlos Frias]], breaking his right [[fibula]] and putting him on the disabled list, resulting in him missing 28 games. At the time he was batting .317 and was a potential [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]],{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} leading the league in several offensive categories. Two weeks after his return on July 27, 2015, he was again hit by a pitch, this time in the batting helmet by [[Chicago Cubs]] pitcher [[Jake Arrieta]]. He went on the 7-day concussion list, missing another seven games.

In 2015, he batted .287/.353/.380 in 355 at bats,<ref name=autogenerated1 /> and led the Giants with 14 stolen bases.<ref>{{cite web| title= 2015 San Francisco Giants Statistics | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2015.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=October 19, 2024}}</ref> After the 2015 season, the Giants declined Aoki's option, making him a free agent.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Haft|first1=Chris|title=Giants decline options on Aoki, Byrd|url=http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/156532740/nori-aoki-marlon-byrd-giants-options-declined|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107215031/http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/156532740/nori-aoki-marlon-byrd-giants-options-declined|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2015|website=MLB.com|access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref>

===Seattle Mariners===
On December 3, 2015, Aoki signed a one-year, $5.5&nbsp;million contract with the [[Seattle Mariners]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/mariners-sign-nori-aoki-1-deal-224104249.html |title=Nori Aoki and Mariners finalize $5.5 million deal - Yahoo News |website=news.yahoo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206215204/http://news.yahoo.com/mariners-sign-nori-aoki-1-deal-224104249.html |archive-date=2015-12-06}}</ref> In 2016, Aoki played in 118 games for the Mariners, slashing .283/.349/.388 with four home runs, 28 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 417 at-bats.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

===Houston Astros===
[[File:Norichika Aoki in 2017.jpg|thumb|Aoki with the Astros in 2017]]
The [[Houston Astros]] claimed Aoki off waivers from the Mariners on November 3, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-claim-outfielder-Nori-Aoki-off-waivers-10591950.php|title=Astros claim outfielder Nori Aoki off waivers|date=November 3, 2016}}</ref>

On June 11, 2017, Aoki recorded his 2000th career professional hit against the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]]. This includes hits in NPB and MLB. While he was traded before the Astros' World Series championship run in 2017, he was awarded a World Series ring by the team by virtue of playing 70 games for them in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-almost-done-doling-out-ws-rings/c-276273362 |title=Astros nearly done giving out World Series rings |last=McTaggart |first=Brian |publisher=Major League Baseball |date=May 11, 2018 |access-date=August 15, 2018 |quote=Astros president Reid Ryan said the club shipped rings to former Astros players Cameron Maybin (Marlins), Joe Musgrove (Pirates) and Colin Moran (Pirates), as well as Norichika Aoki, who's in Japan.}}</ref>

===Toronto Blue Jays===
On July 31, 2017, the Astros traded Aoki and [[Teoscar Hernández]] to the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in exchange for [[Francisco Liriano]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/245558608/blue-jays-get-norichika-aoki-for-liriano/?topicId=27118412|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801044736/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/245558608/blue-jays-get-norichika-aoki-for-liriano/?topicId=27118412|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2017|title=Toronto gets Aoki, prospect for Liriano|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=July 31, 2017|access-date=July 31, 2017}}</ref> In 12 games for Toronto, he went 9-for-32 (.281) with 3 home runs and 8 RBI. Aoki was [[designated for assignment]] by the Blue Jays on August 28,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-designate-nori-aoki-assignment-recall-leonel-campos/|title=Blue Jays designate Nori Aoki for assignment, recall Leonel Campos|work=[[Sportsnet]]|date=August 28, 2017|access-date=August 28, 2017}}</ref> and released the following day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-give-outfielder-nori-aoki-unconditional-release/|title=Blue Jays give outfielder Nori Aoki his unconditional release|work=[[Sportsnet]]|date=August 29, 2017|access-date=August 29, 2017}}</ref>

===New York Mets===
On September 2, 2017, the [[New York Mets]] signed Aoki to a major league contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Mets/status/904021246618292224|title=We have signed outfielder Norichika Aoki to a major league contract. Aoki will wear #11 and will join the team in Houston today. #Metspic.twitter.com/HEguI4SQO6|first=New York|last=Mets}}</ref> In 27 appearances for New York, he batted .284/.371/.373 with eight RBI and five stolen bases. On October 30, Aoki was released by the Mets.

===Tokyo Yakult Swallows (second stint)===
On January 30, 2018, Aoki signed a three-year deal to return to the [[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]], where he spent the first eight years of his professional career.<ref>{{cite web|title=Norichika Aoki signs with Yakult Swallows in Japan|url=https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2018/1/30/16949936/norichika-aoki-signs-japan|date=January 30, 2018|author=Cotillo, Chris}}</ref> In early May, 2018, Aoki recorded his 4,000th at-bat in NPB. With a .328 career batting average to that point, he then qualified as NPB's lifetime batting champion. He was selected for the {{ill|2018 NPB All-Star game|jp|2018年のオールスターゲーム (日本プロ野球)}}.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://npb.jp/allstar/2018/ballotresult.html | title=マイナビオールスターゲーム2018 ファン投票結果 | work=NPB.jp 日本野球機構 | language=ja | access-date=June 25, 2018 | date=June 26, 2018 }}</ref>

Aoki made 72 appearances for the Swallows in 2024, slashing .229/.287/.271 with no home runs, nine RBI, and two stolen bases. On September 14, 2024, Aoki announced he would retire at season's end.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nori Aoki To Retire At NPB Season's End|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/nori-aoki-to-retire-at-npb-seasons-end.html|access-date=December 29, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Norichika Aoki in 2010.04.03.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Aoki in 2010]]

===2006 World Baseball Classic===
Aoki was named to the Japanese national team for the first time in early 2006 for the inaugural World Baseball Classic. After being relegated to the bench and seeing little playing time in the [[2006 World Baseball Classic#Format|first two rounds]], he was named the starting center fielder in the [[2006 World Baseball Classic – Finals#Results|semi-finals]] against [[South Korea national baseball team|South Korea]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121102094731/http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/worldbaseballclassic/boxscore?key=20060318WBBCKOREAJAPAN0 "World Baseball Classic: Japan 6, Korea 0"] ''ESPN''</ref> and finals against [[Cuba national baseball team|Cuba]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060520002801/http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/worldbaseballclassic/boxscore?key=20060320WBBCCUBAJAPAN0 "World Baseball Classic: Cuba 6, Japan 10"] ''ESPN''</ref> but went 0-for-4 in those two games and finished with just one hit in five [[At bat|at-bats]] in the tournament.<ref>[http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/stats/index.jsp?grid=wbc_team_hitting&season=2006 "Statistics: 2006"] {{webarchive|url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090625152009/http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/stats/index.jsp?grid=wbc_team_hitting&season=2006 |date=June 25, 2009 }} ''WorldBaseballClassic.com''</ref> Nevertheless, Japan defeated Cuba 10–6 in the finals to become the inaugural [[World Baseball Classic#Results|tournament champions]].<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20060322o1.html "Japan defeats Cuba to win first World Baseball Classic"] ''The Japan Times''</ref>

===2007 Asian Baseball Championship===
Aoki played in the [[2007 Asian Baseball Championship]] (which also functioned as the Asian qualifying tournament for the Beijing Olympics) as a member of the Japanese national team. Though he was 0-for-9 with one sacrifice bunt in the first two games against the [[Philippines national baseball team|Philippines]]<ref>[http://www.ibaf.org/index.php?id=10&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=6&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=32&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=9&cHash=3480d5726e "Japan Cruises Past Philippines 10-0 in Asian Qualifier Nightcap"] ''IBAF''</ref> and South Korea as Japan's No. 3 hitter, he went 3-for-4 with a [[Double (baseball)|double]] and a walk in a 10–2 [[mercy rule]] win in the final game against [[Chinese Taipei baseball team|Taiwan]],<ref>[http://www.ibaf.org/index.php?id=10&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=8&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=36&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=9&cHash=3753a664c6 "Japan Wins Big Over Chinese Taipei, Headed to Olympics"] ''IBAF''</ref> helping Japan clinch a berth in the upcoming Olympics.

===2008 Beijing Olympics===
Aoki played in all nine games in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as Japan's starting center fielder, batting in each of the first three spots in the order and hitting .294 (10-for-34) with seven RBI and scoring five runs. Japan dropped the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Semifinals|semi-finals]] against South Korea, though, and despite a go-ahead three-run home run by Aoki in the third inning of the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Bronze medal match|bronze medal match]] against the [[United States national baseball team|United States]], Japan went on to lose 8–4 in a disappointing [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Final standings|fourth-place finish]] behind South Korea, Cuba and the United States.

===2009 World Baseball Classic===
Aoki played in the World Baseball Classic for the second time in 2009,<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20090304o2.html "Players devote extra time to WBC preparations"] ''The Japan Times''</ref> having no difficulty playing left field despite manning center field almost exclusively for the Swallows.<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20090318o2.html "Aoki's move to left field shows his commitment"] ''The Japan Times''</ref> He played in all nine games, hitting .324 (12-for-37) with seven RBI<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20090321o1.html "Japan continues momentum"] ''The Japan Times''</ref> as Japan's No. 3 hitter, and had a pivotal role in Japan's repeat as tournament champions. Aoki was one of three outfielders named to the [[2009 World Baseball Classic#All–WBC team|All-Tournament]] team.

===2017 World Baseball Classic===
Aoki played center field for Team Japan in the [[2017 World Baseball Classic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/219019054/norichika-aoki-a-key-in-japans-win-over-dutch/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312200718/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/219019054/norichika-aoki-a-key-in-japans-win-over-dutch/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 12, 2017|title=Norichika Aoki a key in Japan's win over Dutch|website=Houston Astros}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-norichika-aoki-headed-to-wbc/|title=Astros' Norichika Aoki: Headed to WBC|date=February 27, 2017 }}</ref> His team finished 3rd.

==Playing style==
===Hitting===
Listed at {{convert|5|ft|9|in}} and {{convert|180|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, Aoki is described as a prototypical [[contact hitter]] for his ability to spread the ball to all fields and utilize his speed [[Baserunning#Running the bases|on the bases]] to stretch singles into doubles and doubles into [[Triple (baseball)|triples]]. Slotted into the 2-hole in front of former Tigers shortstop Takashi Toritani, Aoki became adept at hitting [[Infield hit|infield singles]] to the left side of the infield to [[Baserunning#Becoming a runner|get on base]] during his years at Waseda University. He carried that same approach into the pros, going [[Batting (baseball)#Types of hitters|the opposite way]] for infield hits and singles to left field so often that teams began employing an "Aoki Shift", with the third baseman playing shallow and the shortstop shading the [[List of baseball jargon \(0–9\)#5.5 hole|5-6 hole]], until 2006.

Aoki has developed more power with each successive season and has now established himself as a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat that can [[Pull hitter|pull the ball]] as well as hit for a high average (.333 career batting average as of May 13, 2009).<ref>[http://www.npbtracker.com/2009/01/player-profile-norichika-aoki/ "Player Profile: Norichika Aoki"] ''NPB Tracker''</ref> He is known to be slightly unusual in that he has several different batting stances in his repertoire. While most players shape their mechanics to perfection, Aoki does not hesitate to switch from one stance to another when he runs into hitless stretches (though he holds his [[Baseball bat|bat]] much more upright than he did earlier in his career). He has attested to the importance of lower body movement to his hitting in interviews. According to [[Statcast]], Aoki's current batting stance positions his head closest to the assumed strikezone of any active player.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

===Fielding===
On the [[Defense (sports)|defensive]] end, Aoki has earned a reputation as a superb center fielder with excellent instincts and range, winning six consecutive Golden Glove awards from 2006 through 2011 and leading all outfielders in the Central League [[putouts]] in 2006 and 2007.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} His throwing arm is fringe-average for a major league center fielder but accurate, and he has a quick release.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
In his first MLB season, Aoki made nine putouts in a game while fielding the right field in the Brewers' win over the Reds on June 8, 2012, falling one catch shy of the National League record. The 9 putouts rank among the most by a Brewers outfielder in a game. He was known throughout the Brewers organization as a solid defender.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

==Personal life==
Aoki is married to former Japanese broadcaster Sachi Ohtake, with whom he has two children.<ref name="playerwives.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.playerwives.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/nori-aokis-wife-sachi-ohtake-aoki/|title=Nori Aoki's Wife Sachi Ohtake Aoki - PlayerWives.com|date=October 23, 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Nori Aoki}}
{{Baseballstats|mlb=493114 |espn=32053|br=a/aokino01|fangraphs=13075|brm=aoki--001nor|retro=A/Paokin001}}
*{{Japanese baseball|id=1842}}
* [https://npb.jp/bis/eng/players/31135119.html Career statistics - NPB.jp]
*[http://sns.yakult-swallows.co.jp/aoki/ Norichika Aoki – Tokyo Yakult Swallows Official Blog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927025739/http://sns.yakult-swallows.co.jp/aoki/ |date=September 27, 2007 }} (Japanese)
*[http://japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=naoki Norichika Aoki, JapaneseBallPlayers.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206080352/http://japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=naoki |date=December 6, 2017 }}

{{2021 Tokyo Yakult Swallows}}
{{Central League ROYs}}
{{Navboxes
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{{Japan roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}
{{Japan baseball roster 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{Japan roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}
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{{Japan roster 2017 World Baseball Classic}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aoki, Norichika}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
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