Munenori Kawasaki is back with the Cubs.
The Japanese infielder who was quite the presence during spring training is back with the big league team, recalled from Triple-A Iowa ahead of Saturday night's game with the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
In a corresponding roster move, the Cubs optioned Jeimer Candelario back to Iowa.
Kawasaki appeared in two games with the Cubs earlier this season, getting a hit in a pair of at-bats in mid-April. In 61 games with Iowa, he has a .271/.348/.325 slash line with 21 runs scored, 31 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He's a .235 career hitter in 714 major league plate appearances.
Candelario was called up for the first time in his career last weekend and got a hit in his first big league game. He started in his each of his first two days in the majors but hasn't since, just 1-for-11 in 14 plate appearances.