Munenori Kawasaki may have only spent three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, but the infielder left a lasting impression on their fan base. Almost a decade later, the fan favorite is still playing the game he loves as he moves into his mid-40s.
Left-hander Rich Hill, the oldest player to appear in the Major Leagues this past season, made a pair of late-season starts for the Kansas City Royals, going 0-2 with 5 earned runs allowed and eight walks in 9.0 IP. Hill turned 45 in March. The southpaw will retire after a 21-year career.
Kawasaki is 44; he turns 45 in June. He may not be commanding the attention and interest that Hill did late in his career, but Kawasaki isn’t leaving the game yet, either. According to a Japanese report from Chunichi (via Reddit), Kawasaki will be joining the Chunichi Dragons for spring training in a hybrid player/coach role.
The Dragons finished the 2025 NPB season with a 63-78 record, good for fourth in the Central League.
Munenori Kawasaki’s pro career began in 2000
Kawasaki started his pro career in Japan with the Daiei (now Softbank) Hawks as a 4th-round pick in the 2000 Draft. A light-hitting shortstop known mostly for his defense and baserunning, Kawasaki took home several accolades during his 11 years with the Hawks: an eight-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a pair of Japan Series Championships (2003 and 2011).
2004 may have been among his best overall seasons, as Kawasaki hit .303/.359/.387 in 633 PA while leading the league in hits (171) and stolen bases (42).
He was twice added to the Samurai Japan roster for the World Baseball Classic (2006 and 2009).
Kawasaki played five seasons in MLB
After the 2011 season, Kawasaki sought an opportunity in the big leagues and signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners. Kawasaki was notably excited to join his idol, Ichiro Suzuki, but struggled at the plate in Seattle, hitting just .192/.257/.202 in 115 PA before being released after the season.
Kawasaki joined the Blue Jays on a minor league deal for the 2013 season — and again for 2014 and 2015. It didn’t take long for him to endear himself to Blue Jays fans, who appreciated his high-energy approach and always-upbeat attitude. Several video clips from interviews with the infielder would go viral on social media, including a post-game interview after being responsible for a walk-off two-run double to defeat the Baltimore Orioles:
“Thank you very much. My name is Munenori Kawasaki, I come from Japan. I am Japneeeeeese. My teammates gave me an opportunity, so I wanted to do something about it.”
Kawasaki appeared in 201 games for the Blue Jays over his three seasons with the team, batting .242/.326/.301 in 597 PA.
He’d play in 14 games with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, returned to the Hawks for 2017, and has continued to play around the globe since. Kawasaki spent time in the Japanese independent leagues and also suited up for the Mid East Falcons in Baseball United’s inaugural season this winter in Dubai, where he hit .381 (third in the league) and won the championship series MVP.
Blue Jays Fan Favorite Still Playing Into His 40s