When the Chicago White Sox signed Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, it was unclear how he’d adjust to major league pitching. After 38 games, it’s clear that he has no problem slugging the ball against baseball’s best pitchers.
Murakami continues to accomplish new power feats. When he crushed a solo home run in the first inning, he accomplished a feat never been done before in MLB history. The blast marked the eighth consecutive series opener with a home run.
Per MLB researcher Sarah Langs, Murakami’s 15 home runs in his first 38 career games are the second-most in MLB history, behind Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins slugged 18 home runs with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Munetaka Murakami Has Taken MLB by Storm
When Murakami was posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, he was projected for a $180 million contract by MLB Trade Rumors. Ultimately, the Japanese slugger opted to take a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox.
That’s a move that looks prescient in hindsight.
One of the major concerns was Murakami’s ability to handle major league fastballs. That has been answered resoundingly this season, as he’s batting .266 with a .703 slugging percentage against four-seamers, sinkers, and cutters. The expected metrics, which take into account batted ball data, support that with a .286 xBA and .700 xSLG.
If there is one concern, it’s his strikeout rate. Murakami has punched out in 34.4% of his plate appearances. However, he’s offset that with a 17.5% walk rate and a 22.1% barrel rate. While his zone contact rate sits at only 65.3%, he rarely chases out of zone (22.0% chase rate), and a .571 xwOBA on contact that’s in the Top 1%.
Even with the bloated strikeout rate, the White Sox are certainly happy with Murakami’s production. The left-handed hitter has posted a .237/.369/.565 slash in his first 37 games. Those numbers are backed by a .231 xBA, .568 xSLG, and a .391 xwOBA. The latter two metrics rank in the 95th and 99th percentiles among MLB hitters.
As the White Sox try to complete their rebuild, Murakami and shortstop Colson Montgomery project to be core players in their lineup. The two players have accumulated 1.3 and 1.5 fWAR so far in the 2026 season. Both players could be representing the club in the All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
Munetaka Murakami’s Free Agency Gamble Pays Off
Without knowledge of the negotiations, it’s unclear if Murakami had longer-term offers. However, his decision to take a short-term deal and prove his worth in the major leagues has set him up for a bigger contract.
He’ll reach free agency again following the 2027 season, barring an extension by the White Sox in the next 18 months. Teams should have more than 300 games and 1,200 plate appearances to evaluate.
There’s a market for Murakami’s skill set, as Schwarber proved in the offseason. The Phillies re-signed their star slugger for $150 million, a number that Murakami can beat if he continues to produce for the next two seasons.
In the previous offseason, MLB Trade Rumors, FanGraphs, and The Athletic all predicted Murakami to break $150 million. With his early-career success, the possibility he lands such a contract after 2027 seems almost like a foregone conclusion.
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