Munenori Kawasaki #66

Munenori signed a minor league contract with the Cubs, January 19, 2016, after three seasons in the Blue Jays organization ... has appeared in parts of five major league seasons with Seattle (2012), Toronto (2013-15) and Chicago (2016), batting .237 (150-for-633) in 276 games...Selected in the fourth round of the 1999 Nippon Professional Baseball League amateur draft by the Fukuoka Hawks ... played 11 seasons in Japan and was named an All-Star eight-consecutive seasons from 2004 through his final campaign in 2011...Earned Japan's interleague MVP honors in 2008 after batting .366 vs. the Central League...Earned the Best Nine and Golden Glove awards in four-straight seasons from 2004-07...Won two Japan championships in 2003 and 2011...Member of Japan's gold medal winning World Baseball Classic squad in 2009 ... also was the starting shortstop for the team in 2006...Played for Japan in the 2008 Beijing Olympics... Signed with the Mariners in January of 2012 and made his major league debut April 7 of that season at Oakland...Named Mariners recipient of the MLBPAA 2012 Heart and Hustle Award, presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and tradition of the game.

2016

Munenori had three stints with the Cubs, but spent most of the season at Triple-A Iowa ... played in 14 games with Chicago, batting .333 (7-for-21) with two doubles and an RBI ... became the sixth Japanese-born player to appear in a game for the Cubs and the first position player since Kosuke Fukudome...Reached base three times, September 27 at Pittsburgh, going 1-for-3 with two walks and a season-high two runs scored ... went 1-for-2 with a double in the Cubs 1-1 tie at Pittsburgh, September 29 ... collected a pinch-hit, RBI double, September 6 at Milwaukee...In 102 games with Iowa, he swiped 20 bags, his most-ever in a season since coming stateside ... batted .255 (80-for-314)... Went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI, walk and a season-high three runs scored, May 14 at Reno...Hit his first-career minor league homer (second between majors and minors), August 18 at Sacramento.© Had a .982 fielding percentage (seven errors) in 100 games at shortstop for Iowa.

2015

Munenori spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Buffalo, batting .245 (48-for-196) in 62 games ... made five stints with the Blue Jays, appearing in 23 games total, including 10 starts between second base and third base...His 23 major league contests were his fewest in a season since signing with the Mariners out of Japan in 2012...With Buffalo, he batted .277 (44-for-159) against righties, but just .108 (4-for-37) against southpaws...Went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a season-high three runs, April 23 at Lehigh Valley...With Toronto, recorded two extra-base hits as he connected on doubles in back-to-back contests, June 7-8...Recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 20 major league games in the field, converting all 43 of his chances.

2014

Appeared in 82 games across two stints with the Blue Jays, setting career-highs in batting average (.258), OBP (.327), hits (62), doubles (7) and runs scored (31) ... recorded a higher batting average against lefties (.283) than against righties (.253) ... batted .307 in July, a career-high for any month...Posted a .346 average with a .426 OBP in close and late situations...Had a career-high eight-game hitting streak snapped July 21 vs. Boston ... batted .382 over that span with five multi-hit games...Recalled from Buffalo for the second time on June 17 and spent the remainder of the season with Toronto.

2013

In first stint with TOR (April 13-July 12), played 70 games recording four triples, four doubles, a home run, seven stolen bases, 20 runs scored and 20 RBI...In his second stint with TOR played 26 games and hit .274 with a .348 OBP and .687 OPS...He reached base safely in 55 of his 90 games this year with an AB...Ranked T-1st on club with 5-3B...On Sept. 25 at BAL, had a career-high four hits, going 4-for-5 with a double...On Sept. 21 at BOS was ejected by 1B umpire Cooper for arguing an out/safe call… It was his 1st career ejection...On June 21 vs. BAL, hit the 1st HR of his MLB career (off Hunter)… Became oldest Blue Jay at age 32 to hit their 1st career HR...May 26 vs. BAL hit a 2R double in the 9th inning to win the game in a walk-off...April 15 vs. CWS hit his 1st career 3B (107th career AB)...April 13 at KC became 1st Japanese-born position player to appear in a game as a Toronto Blue Jay in franchise history…Had his contract selected from Buffalo (AAA) that day.

2012

Named Mariners recipient of the MLBPAA 2012 Heart and Hustle Award, presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit, and tradition of the game...Appeared in 61 games, making 29 starts (SS-25, 2B-4); also made one appearance at third base...Was perfect in 134 total chances in 286.2 defensive innings including 56 putouts, 78 assists and 16 double plays...Career-high 3 RBI on June 4 at LAA, going 2-3 with a double (only XBH of season)... Had a then career-high 3 hits Aug. 7 at Baltimore, going 3-6 with a run scored...Made MLB debut on April 7 at OAK (1-4, RBI) while starting at shortstop.

2011

Appeared in 144 games for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Japan Pacific League ... helped lead Fukuoka to the Japan Series championship ... named a NPB All-Star for the 8th consecutive season ... hit .267 (161x603) with 19 doubles, 7 triples and 37 RBI ... recorded a .981 FLD% (12 E, 617 TC).

2010

Recorded career-highs with 190 hits and 27 doubles...also tied career-high with 4 home runs.

2009

Hit .259 (140x540) with 26 doubles, 8 triples and 4 home runs...stole career-high 44 bases ... member of Japan's gold medal winning World Baseball Classic squad.

2008

Hit .366 vs. the Central League to earn Interleague MVP honors ... appeared in 99 games battling through an injured left foot ... appeared in 3 games for Japan in the Beijing Olympics.

2007

Limited to a career-low 95 games ... hit .329 (126x383).

2006

Won the Pacific League Best Nine and Golden Glove awards ... received the most fan votes at shortstop for the MLB-NPB All-Star Series held in November ... starting shortstop for Japan in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

2005

Hit .271 (108x399) in 102 games.

2004

Tied for Pacific League lead in hits (171) and led the circuit with 42 steals ... earned the Best Nine and Golden Glove awards.

2003

Fukuoka's Opening Day shortstop for the first time in his career ... helped lead club to Japan Series championship.

2002

Saw action in 36 games at the Major League level ... won the Western League batting title batting .367 ... played for Japan in the IBAF International Cup.

2001

Made his debut with Fukuoka at the Major League level on Oct. 3 vs. Orix ... ranked 135 2nd in the Western League (minors) with 29 stolen bases.