Tomohiro Nioka is a Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

 professional baseball player for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...

. Nioka bats and throws right-handed.

Early career

Tomohiro Nioka was the second draft pick of the Yomiuri Giants

Yomiuri Giants

The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...

 in . He made his pro debut that year, playing in 126 games and hitting .289. The following season he played in 119 games, hit 10 home run

Home run

In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

s, and collected 32 runs batted in. Nioka played in only 86 games in , and played in 112 in . He hit 24 homers (which set a Giants record for his position) and compiled a respectable .281 average in the 2002 season. The Giants won the championship in '02.

Career year

Tomohiro had a career season in . He played in 140 games, and hit .300, the first .300 season of his career. Nioka also recorded career highs in hits

Hit (baseball)

In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....

 (172), home runs (29), stolen base

Stolen base

In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...

s (14) and runs scored (88). Nioka played a large part in keeping the Giants out of the cellar that year by hitting many home runs that helped snap losing skids, including a home run on September 18 that helped the Giants win, 5 to 3, and end a 9-game losing streak. The Giants tied for 3rd place in 2003.

2004-present

In 2004, Tomohiro appeared in only 91 games, but still managed to collect 88 hits. He had a strong comeback year in 2005, hitting 16 dingers and driving in 58 runs. Nioka hit .301 in 2005, a new career high. In 2006, he reached the 20-home run mark for the third time by sending 25 over the fence.

In , Nioka hit .295, hit 20 home runs, and set a career high in RBI with 83. He played at both short and third base

Third Base

is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...

 in '07.

On November 14, , Nioka and Masanori Hayashi were acquired by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters for Takahito Kudo

Takahito Kudo

is a Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League.-External links:...

 and Micheal Nakamura

Micheal Nakamura

is a former Major League Baseball player who currently plays in the Japanese professional leagues. He pitched as the closer for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.He was educated at The Knox School and Wesley College, Melbourne.-Biography:...

.

MLB Rumors

It was rumored over the 2007 MLB offseason that Nioka, a free agent after the '07 season, was interested in playing in the big leagues. He was quoted as saying "I'd most definitely consider playing in the Major Leagues" in 2003. It was reported that possible destinations for Nioka might be the Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...

, Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....

, Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...

, San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

, or St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

.

Love hotel scandal

In July 2008, the Japanese tabloid weekly Josei Seven reported, with pictures, that Nioka, who is married, had gone to a love hotel

Love hotel

A love hotel is a type of short-stay hotel found around the world operated primarily for the purpose of allowing couples privacy for sexual activities...

 with TV announcer Mona Yamamoto

Mona Yamamoto

is a Norwegian-Japanese TV announcer and presenter. Her father is Norwegian and she became a naturalized Japanese citizen at the age of 6.After graduating from Gakushuin University, Mona joined the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation as an announcer. She introduces Jackass in Japan...

. The two met by chance at a gay

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...

 bar in Shinjuku ni-chōme, Tokyo and, according to the newspaper, traveled to the hotel after drinking and conversing for several hours. The incident received widespread press attention in Japan.