Without his familiar jet-black hair, Munenori Kawasaki looked more like a high schooler than a major leaguer as he sat between Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge and catcher Miguel Olivo.
With just a buzz cut adorning his shaved head, he would've fit right in with the hundreds of players currently darting across Koshien Staduim's dirt infield at the National High School Invitational Tournament. He even answered a question in the fashion of a high-schooler at Koshien, beginning in a normal tone and ending with his voice nearly at a yell.
But any pretense of seriousness was soon broken up by Wedge slapping the table and Kawasaki spontaneously beginning to clap.