Matt Murton is no longer known as just a carrot-topped player but also an exceptional hitter for the Hanshin Tigers.
Murton, an outfielder in his first year in Japan, played in all 69 games for the Kansai club (through Thursday), leading the Central League with a .355 batting average and 105 hits. He tops Hanshin with a .407 on-base percentage, 54 runs scored and nine stolen bases as well.
Murton is on pace for 219 hits this season, which would overtake Ichiro Suzuki for the Nippon Professional Baseball record achieved in 1994, though Ichiro did it in a 130-game season.