Player Profile: Nori Aoki

Nori Aoki has begun his first season with the Mariners and shows promise. What can we expect from the Mariners’ new left fielder?

Nori Aoki has spent time in multiple clubhouses in his 4 season MLB career. Now he sits in the dugout with the Seattle Mariners, looking like the new leadoff hitter and starting left fielder. Aoki came out of the gates on fire last season. Unfortunately, his streak was cut short by a leg injury and then a concussion.

After missing the final month of the 2015 season, Aoki checked out medically and was ready to play again. The Mariners signed the 34-year-old to a one year deal in December, arguably taking quite the risk on Aoki. While he hit .318 through the first 3 months of the season, his production tanked following his two injuries. In July and August, Aoki struggled to keep his average above .200 and then in September only went to bat twice going 0-2.

The good news is Aoki’s injuries seem to behind him, as he has been looking solid in Spring Training. He will more than likely be the leadoff hitter for Seattle come Opening Day as well as the starting left fielder.

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Nori Aoki has had a solid spring with a hit in each of his last 4 games, including one double and two walks. It’s particularly difficult to predict the kind of numbers Aoki will have this season because he hasn’t been performing at full capacity since last June. A fractured Fibula has kept Aoki sidelined for the past few months. The former Giant earns his keep with his base running ability and contact hitting. While his bat is productive as ever, only time will tell if his formerly injured leg will give him trouble getting around the bases.

When it comes to Fantasy Baseball, Aoki is a great sleeper to use a draft pick on. Let’s be honest; how many of us knew who Nori Aoki was when we heard the Mariners signed him? Fortunately for you, the vast majority of fantasy players don’t know him either, or he’s been forgotten about after missing the end of the season. As if rankings that come out this early mean anything, Aoki is ranked 65th at his current position.

Next: Player Profile: Leonys Martin

Aoki is currently hitting .250 in 48 at bats, but has only 2 RBI. Overall, Jerry Dipoto is looking at a successful signing when talking about Aoki and his one year deal. I’m predicting an average in the .280-.320 range and an OBP around .350. Expect the veteran to fit in well in Seattle and to say at the top of the lineup.