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Toronto Blue Jays: Top 5 Munenori Kawasaki Moments

By Paul Taylor

Oct 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Munenori Kawasaki (66) talks with the media in the club house at the end of game five against the Texas Rangers in the ALDS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Munenori Kawasaki (66) talks with the media in the club house at the end of game five against the Texas Rangers in the ALDS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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As Toronto Blue Jays fans comes to terms with Munenori Kawasaki going to the Cubs, we look back at five of our favourite highlights from his time in Southern Ontario.

The fears of Toronto Blue Jays fans everywhere have finally been confirmed – Munenori Kawasaki will not be returning this season. As confirmed by Peter Edwards of the Toronto Star, the 34-year old has signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs, which includes an invitation to spring training.

In reality, it was always likely that Kawasaki would not be back in Southern Ontario, but he will still be sorely missed. The infielder quickly became a fan favourite, when he first joined the Blue Jays in 2013.

Everyone has their own special memories of Kawasaki’s time in Toronto. Here are five of our own favourite memories of Japan’s best ever export. (Please allow for the strong possibility of extreme bias.)

5) Sneaking into the scrum as a reporter

Need proof of why Kawasaki could well be the Japanese version of Will Ferrell, i.e. you can’t help but lose it whenever he’s around? Look no further than the time he sneaked into the media scrum to ask pitcher Esmil Rogers a question:

4) A monkey never cramps

One of the hazards of being a professional athlete is dealing with cramps. However, Kawasaki shares his secret on how to avoid them:

3) We don’t need bananas, we need champagne

What’s funnier than Kawasaki? How about a drunk Kawasaki. How Barry Davis expected a proper answer, I’ll never know, but at least we still got a couple of gems:

2) I am Japaneeeeeeeese!

Kawasaki may not have usually stood out on the stat sheet, but he did have his moments. Here he is being interviewed after hitting a clutch walk-off double to win a game against the Baltimore Orioles:

1) Surprise guest on Intentional Talk

Probably this writer’s favourite moment involving Kawasaki, when he made an impromptu appearance on Intentional Talk. The interaction between him and Mark DeRosa was fun to watch.

Some people believe hosts Chris Rose and Kevin Millar were laughing at him rather than with him, but I disagree. Just like everyone else, they instantly fell in love with his quirky personality:

Next: Top 10 moments in Blue Jays history

What are your fondest memories of Munenori Kawasaki’s time with the Toronto Blue Jays? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

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