After posting an impressive .329/.402/.454 slash line in eight seasons playing for the Yakult Swallows in his native Japan, Norichika Aoki came stateside, joining the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2012 season. Aoki was a model of consistency, posting a batting average between .283 and .288 and on-base percentages between .349 and .356 during his first five seasons.

Selected off waivers in 2017, Aoki got into 70 games and hit .272 with Houston. He was dealt to Toronto at the trade deadline, along with Teoscar Hernandez, for lefthander Francisco Liriano. After 12 games, he was waived and signed by the Mets where he played an additional 27 games before returning to Japan.