It's only been a year since I retired...With two 200-hit legends, Aoki and Yakult, the last-place team reconstruction special name

It's only been a year since I retired...With two 200-hit legends, Aoki and Yakult, the last-place team reconstruction special name
Aoki, who has a total of 2,730 hits in the U.S. and Japan, will be the head of Yakult. He is a legend with 2,730 hits in total in the U.S. and Japan. Aoki returned to the first team after a retirement press conference last year and had four hits. US-Japan Photo Capture = Yakult Swallows SNS



It's only been a year since I retired...With two 200-hit legends, Aoki and Yakult, the last-place team reconstruction special name
Aoki played in 1724 games for Yakult and had 1956 hits. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS
Legendary Norichika Aoki (43), who recorded a total of `2730 hits' in the U.S. and Japan, stepped up as a relief pitcher to rebuild his home team. He will replace Junji Ogawa as head of Yakult Swallows. The Yakult club announced that Aoki will take the helm on Jan. 1. Aoki ended his career at the end of the 2024 season and served as a special assistant to Yakult's general manager. In other words, he gave a general manager class with his experience in team administration.

New general manager Aoki held a press conference on the 5th and "It is important to always aim for victory. From a mid- to long-term perspective, we will promote strengthening our power." Rather than a short-term achievement, it is an expression of willingness to look far to build a solid power that can be won every year. He said he would reform the team by uniting the field and the front desk.

Even if mid- to long-term plans are important, it seems urgent to be out of last place. Yakult had a winning percentage of 0.419 this year. He finished bottom of the six Central League teams. The gap with the first-place Hanshin Tigers reached 26.5 games. Both hit the bottom. 'Jupo'Munetaka Murakami (25)'s long injury absence was a shame.




Immediately after the end of the season, he retired as announced by coach Takatsu Shingo (57). Takahiro Ikeyama (60), the head coach of the second division, took the helm. It is a Yakult castle where he has been a player and leader only in Yakult.

Due to poor performance, the coach and general manager have all changed. The atmosphere should be renewed to prepare for the new season. However, there is a big bad news. Murakami goes to Major League Baseball through posting. He needs to fill the vacancy of the fourth batter, who has been the home run king three times. Reconstruction of the mound is also an urgent task.

It's only been a year since I retired...With two 200-hit legends, Aoki and Yakult, the last-place team reconstruction special name
Murakami in tears at the senior Aoki's retirement press conference. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS
Yakult has gone from one extreme to the other over the past few years. He finished last in 2019-2020 and succeeded in rebounding with coach Takatsu. It went up to the top of the league in 2021, and came out on top of the Japan Series. It went downhill after winning the league for the second year in a row until 2022. From 2023 to 2024, it ranked fifth for two consecutive years. It finally came down to the bottom of the year. It is time for a change.




Aoki, a right-handed left-handed outfielder, went to Waseda University and became a Yakult player with the fourth nomination in the 2004 rookie draft. In his second year as a member of the club, he took off as a starting player. He recorded a batting average of 0.344-202 in 2005 and became a two-time winner. He had 209 hits in 2010, becoming the first player to have 200 hits twice. He marked a batting average of 0.358 that year, ranking No. 1 for the third time.

He moved to the Major League in 2012. It started with the Milwaukee Brewers and went through the Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets. He played in 759 games in seven seasons and posted a career batting average of 0.285-774.

Aoki, who returned to Yakult in 2018, played seven more seasons and retired. He played in 1,724 games in the Japanese professional baseball league and posted a career batting average of 0.313, 1956 hits, 145 home runs, 667 RBIs, and 177 steals.




It's only been a year since I retired...With two 200-hit legends, Aoki and Yakult, the last-place team reconstruction special name
The Yakult teammates are rinsing Murakami leaving for the Major League. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS
There is one more legendary general manager who has experienced Major League Baseball. Kazuhisa Ishii (52), general manager of Rakuten Eagles. He has been a general manager and manager, but since last year, he has only served as a general manager.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.