Murakami Munetaka (25), an infielder from the Yakult Swallows in the Japanese professional baseball ..

Murakami Munetaka (25), an infielder from the Yakult Swallows in the Japanese professional baseball league, will eventually enter the big leagues on a short-term contract.

Citing multiple sources, Sankei Sports said on the 22nd that Murakami agreed to a two-year, $34 million (KRW 50.354 billion) contract with the Chicago White Sox.

U.S. media such as “ESPN” and “The Athletic” also quoted sources as saying the same news.

사진 확대 Murakami had 56 home runs in 2022. 사진=ⓒAFPBBNews = News1

The White Sox quickly emerged as a team interested in Murakami ahead of his posting deadline (7 a.m. on the 23rd in Korea). Those who emerged as “dark horses” in the recruitment competition eventually had the best guns in Japanese professional baseball.

Murakami, a right-handed lefty, is 188 centimeters tall and weighs 96 kilograms.

He played in 892 Japanese professional baseball games and recorded a batting average of 0.270 on-base percentage of 0.394 slugging percentage of 0.557 246 home runs and 647 RBIs. He has a record of winning two Central League MVP awards and four All-Star awards.

The 2022 season was at its peak. He hit 56 home runs, surpassing the Japanese player’s record of 55 home runs set by Wang Jeong-gi (Osada Haru) in 1964. At the same time, he recorded a triple crown at the age of 23, setting a record for the youngest triple crown in Japanese professional baseball.

He played only 56 games in the 2025 season, but showed good performance when he was healthy with a batting average of 0.273 on-base percentage of 0.379 slugging percentage of 0.663 22 home runs and 47 RBIs.

He had the best slugging ability in Japanese pro baseball. For this reason, he drew attention, but at the same time, excessive swing and miss, the resulting high strikeout rate (25.8%), and anxiety about defense hampered him.

사진 확대 Major League clubs are reportedly concerned about Murakami’s strikeout rate. 사진=ⓒAFPBBNews = News1

Eventually, he was in a situation where he had to prove his value through a short-term contract.

Sankei Sports said the stagnation of the FA market also affected his contract, with the actions of big-name FA players such as Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman not set.

It’s not just a bad thing. If he properly proves his value by getting a steady opportunity in the White Sox, who have lost more than 100 games for three consecutive years and have fallen into the weakest team in the Major League, he can come back to the FA market in his late 20s. At that time, you will be able to challenge for a big contract.

사진 확대 Murakami is recognized for his long-shot power, but questions are being raised in defense and contact. 사진=ⓒAFPBBNews = News1

Sankei Sports said, “Historically, it took a while for Japanese fielders to adapt to the major leagues. Rather than being under excessive pressure all of a sudden, I chose the White Sox in consideration of the team’s situation in which it is easy to exercise its original power,” he said, explaining his intention to choose the White Sox.

ESPN Major League Baseball reporter Jeff Bankrupt predicted Murakami would see the first baseman with the White Sox.

The White Sox, which are undergoing rebuilding, have the power to prepare for the future by adding Murakami to young hitters such as Colson Montgomery, Kyle Till, Edgar Quero, Miguel Vargas and Chase Maidros.

[KIM JAE HO, MK Sports Reporter]