Left fielder Norichika Aoki is expected to come off the disabled list and rejoin the Giants’ starting lineup tonight against the Brewers after missing the past month with a fractured right fibula.
Aoki had hoped to return over the weekend, but the Giants decided to give him a little extra time to recover. He was having a fantastic first half before the injury, hitting .317 with a .383 on-base percentage after joining the Giants as a free agent on an inexpensive one-year deal.
His on-base skills and strike-zone control are key atop San Francisco’s lineup and Aoki’s return pushes Gregor Blanco back into a reserve role.