Munenori Kawasaki, Infield

Date of Birth: 6/3/1981
Birthplace: Kagoshima, Japan

Munenori Kawasaki, infielder, played professional baseball in Japan from 2001 through 2011. He won two Gold Glove awards (2004, 2006) and he led his league in stolen bases in 2004. He signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners in 2012.

Kawasaki joined the Mariners for 61 games in 2012. He finished with just 20 hits and a .192 batting average. The Mariners released him in October, 2012.

In March, 2013, Kawasaki signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2013, he batted .229 with 55 hits in 96 games. As a shortstop, he made 136 assists, 79 putouts, 39 double plays, and 5 errors in 60 games. He finished the 2014 season with 62 hits and a .258 batting average in 82 games.

Kawasaki spent much of the 2015 season in the minors, playing in just 23 games with the Blue Jays. He became a free agent at the end of the season.

Kawasaki signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on January 21, 2016. He was released by the team on March 29th and then re-signed to a new minor league contract the same day. He spent most of the 2016 season in the minors, playing in just 14 games with the Cubs.

Kawasaki became a free agent on November 3, 2016. He signed a new minor league contract with the Cubs on January 7, 2017. He was released on March 28, 2017. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2016.

Career batting statistics for Kawasaki through 2016 include:

• 276 games played
• 150 hits
• 51 RBIs
• 119 strikeouts to 70 walks
• .237 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Kawasaki as an infielder through 2016 include:

• 119 games played at second base, 24 games played at third base, 102 games played at shortstop
• 484 assists
• 102 double plays
• 267 putouts
• 14 errors

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Munenori Kawasaki
ESPN - Munenori Kawasaki