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Kawasaki homer lifts Softbank over Nippon Ham

ASAHIKAWA, Japan - Munenori Kawasaki hits a tiebreaking solo homer over the right-field wall in the top of the 12th inning as the Softbank Hawks edged the Nippon Ham Fighters 6-5 in Asahikawa on Sept. 1.

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Blue Jays Kawasaki hits single

NEW YORK, United States - Blue Jays Munenori Kawasaki hits a single during the fourth inning in a match against the New York Yankees in New York, the United States, on July 27, 2014. The Blue Jays beat the Yankees 5-4.

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Kawasaki ejected for throwing helmet

BOSTON, United States - Combination photo shows the Toronto Blue Jays' Munenori Kawasaki at Fenway Park in Boston on Sept. 21, 2013, (L) running to first behind Boston Red Sox first baseman Will Middlebrooks after grounding during the eighth inning, (C) throwing his helmet as he is called out and (R) being ejected by first base umpire Eric Cooper. The Blue Jays won 4-2.

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Kawasaki ejected for throwing helmet

BOSTON, United States - The Toronto Blue Jays' Munenori Kawasaki runs to first behind Boston Red Sox first baseman Will Middlebrooks after grounding during the eighth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Sept. 21, 2013. Kawasaki was ejected for throwing his helmet after he was called out at first base. The Blue Jays won 4-2.

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Yankees beat Blue Jays

NEW YORK, United States - Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Munenori Kawasaki hits an RBI single during the seventh inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York on Aug. 22, 2013. The Yankees won 5-3.

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Yankees beat Blue Jays

NEW YORK, United States - Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Munenori Kawasaki singles to right during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York on Aug. 22, 2013. The Yankees won 5-3.

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Kawasaki recalled to majors

TORONTO, Canada - Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Munenori Kawasaki catches a liner hit by Mike Napoli of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning of a game at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Aug. 14, 2013, after being called up from Triple-A Buffalo to rejoin the Blue Jays' major league squad. The Blue Jays won 4-3 in 10 innings.

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Kawasaki optioned back to minors

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Toronto Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki leaves Oriole Park in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 13, 2013. Blue Jays said the same day they have optioned Kawasaki back to the Triple-A Buffaloes to create room for Brett Lawrie on the active roster.

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Kawasaki optioned back to minors

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Toronto Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki leaves Oriole Park in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 13, 2013. Blue Jays said the same day they have optioned Kawasaki back to the Triple-A Buffaloes to create room for Brett Lawrie on the active roster.

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Kawasaki back to Blue Jays

TORONTO, Canada - Toronto Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki (R) exchanges high-fives with Jose Reyes after beating the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre in Toronto on July 1, 2013. Kawasaki was optioned on June 26, 2013, to make room for Reyes after the Blue Jays star shortstop returned from a severe ankle sprain, but was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays two days later.

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Kawasaki recalled to majors

BOSTON, United States - Toronto Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki talks to reporters at Fenway Park in Boston on June 28, 2013. Kawasaki was recalled to the Blue Jays after just two days in the minors.

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Kawasaki recalled to majors

BOSTON, United States - Toronto Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki (R) exchanges a high-five with Brett Lawrie at Fenway Park in Boston on June 28, 2013. Kawasaki was recalled to the Blue Jays after just two days in the minors.

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Kawasaki optioned to Triple-A Buffalo

ST. PETERSBURG, United States - Toronto Blue Jays' Munenori Kawasaki (L) stays in the dugout during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on June 25, 2013. After the game, the Blue Jays said they have optioned Kawasaki to the Triple-A Buffalo.

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Blue Jays vs. White Sox

TORONTO, Canada - Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Munenori Kawasaki makes a diving catch of a liner hit by Conor Gillaspie of the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning of a baseball game at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 16, 2013. The White Sox won 4-3.

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MLB rookie hazing

ANAHEIM, United States - Seattle Mariners' Japanese player Munenori Kawasaki heads to a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on Sept. 27, 2012. He is dressed in costumes as part of the hazing meted out to rookies playing for major league teams.

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MLB rookie hazing

ANAHEIM, United States - Seattle Mariners' Japanese players Munenori Kawasaki (L) and Hisashi Iwakuma head to a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on Sept. 27, 2012. They are dressed in costumes as part of the hazing meted out to rookies playing for major league teams.

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Mariners' Kawasaki gets 1st hit in MLB

OAKLAND, United States - Seattle Mariners shortstop Munenori Kawasaki gets his first hit with an RBI single in his major league debut during the fourth inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California, on April 7, 2012. The Mariners won 8-7.

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Mariners' Suzuki, Kawasaki leave Japan

NARITA, Japan - Ichiro Suzuki (C) and Munenori Kawasaki (R top) of the Seattle Mariners are pictured at Narita airport, near Tokyo, on March 30, 2012, shortly before departing for Arizona where the U.S. major league team will hold a training session.

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Mariners' Suzuki, Kawasaki leave Japan

NARITA, Japan - Ichiro Suzuki (L) and Munenori Kawasaki of the Seattle Mariners wave at Narita airport, near Tokyo, on March 30, 2012, shortly before departing for Arizona where the U.S. major league team will hold a training session.

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Seattle Mariners arrive in Japan

NARITA, Japan - Seattle Mariners shortstop Munenori Kawasaki (front) and pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma arrive at Narita airport on March 23, 2012, ahead of the Major League ballclub's season-opening two-game series in Japan against the Oakland Athletics.

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Kawasaki makes Seattle squad for Japan trip

PEORIA, United States - Munenori Kawasaki (front R) of the Seattle Mariners leaves the team's camp in Peoria, Arizona, on March 22, 2012, after he was named to the 30-man traveling squad for the upcoming season-opening two-game series in Japan against the Oakland Athletics.

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Hawks pray for victory

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks chairman Sadaharu Oh (C), the baseball club's manager Koji Akiyama (2nd from L) and shortstop Munenori Kawasaki (R) break the lid of a sake barrel with baseball bats during a ceremony to wish for victory at Hakozakigu, a Shinto shrine in Fukuoka, on Jan. 30, 2010.

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Hawks beat Eagles with Kawasaki's game-ending run

FUKUOKA, Japan - Munenori Kawasaki singles in the game-ending run in the ninth against the Rakuten Eagles at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on Sept. 13, 2009. Softbank beat Rakuten 2-1 to end its four-game losing skid.

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Tanaka, Darvish chat in All-Star game dugout

SAPPORO, Japan - (From R) Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish, Rakuten Eagles ace Masahiro Tanaka and Softbank Hawks infielder Munenori Kawasaki chat in the dugout of the Pacific League in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the two-game All-Star series at Sapporo Dome on July 24.

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Softbank's Kawasaki hits triple

CHIBA, Japan - Softbank Hawks' Munenori Kawasaki slides in safely at third base after hitting a triple to right in the first inning of a game against the Lotte Marines at Chiba Marine Stadium on July 18. The Hawks won 8-6.

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Giants centerfielder Suzuki in action vs Hawks

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yomiuri Giants centerfielder Takahiro Suzuki tries to field a groundball from Softbank Hawks' Munenori Kawasaki in the eighth inning of their game at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on June 13. The Hawks won 3-1.

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Japan vs U.S. in WBC semifinal game in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, United States - Japan's Munenori Kawasaki (52) is congratulated by manager Tatsunori Hara after scoring on an RBI single hit by Hiroyuki Nakajima in the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 22.

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Japan vs U.S. in WBC semifinal game in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, United States - Japan's Munenori Kawasaki hits an RBI single to right off United States starting pitcher Roy Oswalt in the forth inning of a World Baseball Classic game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 22.

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Darvish to start vs S. Korea for WBC semifinal berth

SAN DIEGO, United States - Japan's Ichiro Suzuki (R) talks with teammate Munenori Kawasaki during the team's practice session at PETCO Park in San Diego on March 16. Japan will play against South Korea on March 17 in the second round of the World Baseball Classic for a spot in the semifinals.

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Japan beats Chicago Cubs 3-2 in exhibition game

MESA, United States - Japan's Munenori Kawasaki hits a run-scoring triple in the third inning of an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona, on March 12. Japan won 3-2. The Japanese team will move to San Diego on March 13 to play in the second round of the World Baseball Classic tournament.

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Japan beats San Francisco Giants 6-4 in exhibition game

SCOTTSDALE, United States - Japan's Munenori Kawasaki hits a game-tying, two-run double in the sixth inning of an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Arizona, March 11. Japan is scheduled to play an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs March 12 before moving to San Diego to take part in the second round of the World Baseball Classic tournament.

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Kawasaki homer lifts Softbank over Nippon Ham

ASAHIKAWA, Japan - Munenori Kawasaki hits a tiebreaking solo homer over the right-field wall in the top of the 12th inning as the Softbank Hawks edged the Nippon Ham Fighters 6-5 in Asahikawa on Sept. 1. (Kyodo)

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Giants centerfielder Suzuki in action vs Hawks

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yomiuri Giants centerfielder Takahiro Suzuki tries to field a groundball from Softbank Hawks' Munenori Kawasaki in the eighth inning of their game at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on June 13. The Hawks won 3-1. (Kyodo)

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Kawasaki promoted as replacement

Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki gives an interview to U.S. media after being called up by the Chicago Cubs from Triple-A Iowa as an injury replacement prior to a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 8, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kawasaki promoted as replacement

Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki starts a workout prior to a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 8, 2016. Kawasaki was called up by the Chicago Cubs from Triple-A Iowa as an injury replacement. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Cubs release Kawasaki, then re-sign him

Munenori Kawasaki hits a three-run home run in the eighth inning of the Chicago Cubs' 9-5 win over the Oakland Athletics in a spring training game in Mesa, Arizona on March 29, 2016. The Cubs released the Japanese utility infielder but re-signed him to a new minor-league deal within the day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kawasaki's RBI double helps Cubs outslug Giants

Chicago Cubs non-roster invitee Munenori Kawasaki hits an RBI double in the seventh inning of a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 24, 2016. The Cubs won 16-14. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Kawasaki savoring new opportunity with Cubs

Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki takes part in fielding practice at the Chicago Cubs' spring training complex in Mesa, Arizona, on Feb. 24, 2016. Kawasaki is in major league camp as a non-roster invitee. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kawasaki Santa visits hospital in Japan

Baseball fan favorite Munenori Kawasaki in a Santa Claus costume visits Kurume University Hospital in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 15, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Blue Jays clinch American League East division title

Toronto Blue Jays' Chris Colabello (15) hugs his teammate Munenori Kawasaki after Blue Jays won their first American League East title since 1993 following a 15-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sept. 30, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Blue Jays clinch American League East division title

Toronto Blue Jays' Munenori Kawasaki (C) celebrates after Blue Jays won their first American League East title since 1993 following a 15-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sept. 30, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Toronto Blue Jays v Miami Marlins

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki hits a timely double in the first inning of a game against the Miami Marlins on June 8, 2015, in Toronto, Canada, to mark the first run batted in of this season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kawasaki hits RBI double for Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki hits an RBI double in the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, the United States, on March 11, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese minor leaguer Kawasaki responds to fans' cheers

Popular Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki, on a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2015 season, responds to fans after an intrasquad game in Dunedin, Florida, on March 2, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese minor leaguer Kawasaki pops out

Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki, on a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2015 season, pops out to center in the sixth inning in an intrasquad game in Dunedin, Florida, on March 2, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kawasaki plays second base in intrasquad game

Toronto Blue Jays non-roster invitee Munenori Kawasaki plays second base in an intrasquad game at the club's spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, on March 2, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Cubs release Kawasaki

Munenori Kawasaki plays shortstop in the Chicago Cubs' spring training game against the Seattle Mariners in Mesa, Arizona, on March 9, 2017. The Cubs said on March 28 that they have released the utility infielder. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Kawasaki to re-sign minor league deal with Cubs

Munenori Kawasaki hits an infield single in the fifth inning of the Chicago Cubs' 5-4, 10-inning win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Sept. 16, 2016. Kawasaki will re-sign a minor league deal with the Cubs, a U.S. baseball source said on Jan. 4, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kawasaki added to Cubs 40-man roster, will start in minors

Photo taken March 9, 2016, shows Munenori Kawasaki playing for the Chicago Cubs in a spring training game against the Cleveland Indians in Mesa, Arizona. The Cubs put the utility infielder on their 40-man major league roster on April 3, while sending him in the minors to start the season. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Kawasaki signs minor league deal with Cubs

Undated photo shows Japanese free agent infielder Munenori Kawasaki. U.S. media reported on Jan. 21, 2016, that Kawasaki, who played for the Toronto Blue Jays the previous season, has agreed to a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo