Shogo Akiyama isn't quite ready to say he's better than he was last year. There's evidence Akiyama has taken his game up a level — the Seibu Lions outfielder is playing pretty well for a team that's also off to a decent start — but so far he's been content to look at his early results with little more than cautious optimism.

Akiyama has been swinging the bat well and is patrolling center field better than he did a year ago. He's giving the Lions a steady presence at the top of the order, which can help spark big innings for a team with a powder keg of offensive prowess in the middle of its lineup.

In 2014, Akiyama never got his batting average above .212 during the first two months of the season. This year, he was named the Pacific League's Monthly MVP for hitters, his first win, for his play in March (four games) and April. He's kept his head above water this month as well.