Tag: Norichika Aoki

Aoki Heating Up

Norichika Aoki had a brief but slow start to the season but he is officially heating up now.

Analysis: It seems that about this time every year you have more than a handful of impatient fantasy owners dropping proven commodities. This year is not any different. Aoki started the season 0 for 9 and to some owners only two games were enough and dropping Aoki seemed like the “smart move.” He has since gone 9 for 16 from the plate and raised his batting average to .360.

We have really gone downhill if we are dropping proven fantasy assets after two games. In Aoki’s first two seasons he has averaged 25 steals, 9 home runs, 81 runs and a .287 batting average. Aoki was the 38th best fantasy outfielder last year… ahead of guys like Ben Zobrist, Austin Jackson, Denard Span, Ben Revere, Michael Bourn, Colby Rasmus, Giancarlo Stanton, Nick Swisher and Bryce Harper. Aoki is a lock for a great batting average and a solid amount of runs. He supplies more than enough in other categories yet he still doesn’t get any love.

Aoki is now available in 10-25% of fantasy leagues.

Buying Low- Aoki

Norichika Aoki’s batting average has dipped 100 points over the past two weeks but he remains a solid fantasy outfielder.

Analysis: Aoki is batting .250 this year but considering his BABIP is sitting in the .250 range it isn’t that bad. His walk rate is up from last year, his strikeouts are down and he’s swinging at fewer pitches outside of the strike zone this year(16.8%). His strikeout rate of 7.5% does really stand out, it ranks sixth in baseball among qualified batters. This is a recipe for success and Aoki’s batting average will reap the benefits eventually.

We cannot ignore that Aoki has 3 home runs, 4 stolen bases and 14 runs scored in the month of April. He continues to lead off in front of Jean Segura and Ryan Braun… so things could be worse for a guy who has been a bit unlucky over the last few weeks in regards to his BABIP. As it stands now Aoki has been dropped in 10-15% of leagues across the country but patience in this case is required. He’s not struggling at the plate and he’s still producing… so why is he being dropped?

This is where fantasy baseball is these days- Aoki is being dropped while guys like Endy Chavez and David DeJesus are being picked up.

Deep League Help- Aoki

Norichika Aoki is finally getting some valuable playing time in the Brewers outfield and he is as advertised.

Analysis: With Nyjer Morgan hitting just .233 on the year and only four extra base hits to his credit, Norichika Aoki has played very well in center and right field for the Brew Crew. Aoki actually has seven more extra base hits and five more RBI than Morgan in nineteen less at-bats. Aoki is a former three time Central League batting champ in the NPB, so his .289 batting average thus far should come as no surprise. His tools do resemble Ichiro’s a bit but he does not run as much as Ichiro.

Aoki is available in ninety-nine percent of leagues and if you are in a deeper league an outfielder with his upside can be hard to come by. It still may take a few more months before Aoki is fully acclimated to MLB pitching but you have to like his small sample size thus far. Expect a batting average in the .280-.300 range, five more home runs and ten more stolen bases if he continues to get consistent playing time.