Summary
Japanese baseball player Munetaka Murakami signed a two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox in the MLB. He is known for his strong hitting ability and has impressed during the 2026 season's first games by hitting home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Key Facts
- Munetaka Murakami is a Japanese baseball player previously known for his success in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league.
- In 2022, he broke Sadaharu Oh's record for most home runs in a season by a Japanese-born player with 56.
- Murakami was unable to enter MLB earlier due to age restrictions and continued to play in Japan despite some performance issues.
- He signed a two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox worth $17 million per year.
- Murakami has started the 2026 MLB season by hitting home runs in each of the first three games.
- His performance has been a highlight against a strong team, the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Murakami’s batting power has drawn comparisons to Shohei Ohtani’s, although Murakami lacks Ohtani’s defensive skills.
