Norichika Aoki Posted by Tokyo: What You Need to Know About the Japanese Star

Norichika Aoki is a name you haven't heard of coming out of Japan this offseason. Star pitcher, Yu Darvish, has taken all the attention from Aoki.

Today, it was announced that Tokyo will post Aoki for MLB teams to talk to.

Certainly there will be interest from teams looking to add a bat to their lineup, and Aoki's success in Japan might make him desired.

So if you're a fan of one of those teams needing a bat in the lineup, here's what you need to know about Aoki.

Aoki Can Hit

Looking at his career statistics, one thing jumps out at you immediately about Aoki: He can flat out hit.

In every full season of his career, Aoki has hit over .300 in his respective league. Impressive and consistent numbers.

He's had four seasons hitting over .340, including a .358 average in 2010. That's good enough for a career .336 average.

Aoki has also won the batting title in the Central League three times in his career.

He would certainly be a good No. 2 hitter with his ability to get hits and get on base.

Aoki Can Get on Base

I already told you about his consistently high averages during his career, but to take it one step further, Aoki has also proven he can get on base in multiple ways.

Putting aside the ton of hits he gets every year, Aoki's OBP has been pretty high the past four seasons.

Aoki has broken .400 the past four years, including a career-high .435 OBP last season.

For his career, Aoki is sporting a .411 OBP.

In the later years of his career, Aoki has also had a knack for infield hits.

He has made the case that not only is he a hit machine, but he can get on base as well, making him a perfect candidate to hit at the top of any order in the MLB.

Aoki Can Steal Bases

Despite his stolen base numbers going down the past few seasons, Aoki has proven he can run the bases well, helping his team move station to station without a hit.

In 2006, Aoki stole 41 bases, a career high.

On a more consistent basis, Aoki is good for about 20 steals a season.

Clearly he has the ability to steal more, given his history, but that will depend on the type of team he is on and how much his manager likes to run.

Aoki Is an Extra-Base Hit, Run-Scoring Machine

Whether it's doubles, triples or home runs, Aoki has proven that he isn't just good for singles.

Aoki had a career-high 44 doubles in 2010, almost double his career average. Even in his other years, Aoki has averaged about 25 doubles per season, along with an average of 15 home runs and a few triples thrown in as well.

A lot of extra-base hits at the top of the order means Aoki can score a ton of runs for any team.

Aoki has broken 100 runs three times in his career and is normally around the 100-run mark every season in his career.

His ability to get extra base-hits and score runs will make him an asset to any MLB team that is lacking in those departments.

Aoki Is a Great Defensive Player

A good center fielder in the MLB is a dime a dozen, something that could make Aoki that much more valuable.

In his Japanese career, Aoki has won three Golden Glove awards from 2006 to 2008, including leading the league in putouts in 2006 and 2007.

Aoki is described as having a great arm and a quick release, which enables him to throw out baserunners trying to advance. More importantly, his throws are accurate.

He is also known as having great instincts and with his speed that I mentioned before, Aoki also has great range.

Aoki seems to be a prototypical center fielder and could win a Gold Glove if given the chance to play everyday in the MLB.

MLB Comparison: Ichiro Suzuki

When evaluating Aoki, he will clearly be compared to current MLB superstar Ichiro Suzuki.

Aoki is a spray hitter, with the ability to hit the ball to any field. His high averages prove he is a great hitter, much like Suzuki, with the ability to steal bases and set the table for big innings.

Like Suzuki, he is also a great fielder with a strong arm and a quick release.

All that being said, that kind of comparison will attract a lot of attention to Aoki. His impressive Japanese career will draw interest from several MLB teams.

Aoki has a ton of talent in several ways and is as close to a five-tool player as you'll get in this free-agent market.

Will that success transfer from Japan to the MLB?

Only time will tell, but looking at recent history with Ichiro and Hideki Matsui, there is a better chance he will succeed being a position player.

If history has taught us anything, it's that Japanese hitters will often work out better than Japanese pitchers.