White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami returns to Japan to play in WBC
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mune, we were just getting to know ye.
After 19 intense days in Arizona, the White Sox said farewell to Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, who made an endearing first impression at his first major-league camp before leaving for Tokyo on Friday to play in the World Baseball Classic. The Sox might not see him again till the last days of spring training, depending on how the defending champions fare in the WBC.
Murakami was slated to play first base in a Cactus League game against the Dodgers on Thursday before leaving to join teammates in advance of their March 6 WBC opener against Chinese Taipei, but he was scratched in the morning because of general soreness in what the Sox said was a “precautionary” move.
”He was a full participant in our camp just ahead of a long flight [Friday] morning,” manager Will Venable said. “I thought it was in his best interest not to play today.”
Murakami, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal in December, agreed. He took on a heavier workload than most Sox teammates in preparation for the WBC. Fatigue was setting in, he said.
“I was ramping up at a very high speed,” he said Thursday, citing a tight schedule and daily work.
“It was aggressive,” Venable said. “It’s really important we don’t ask him to do too much here.”
In four Cactus League games, Murakami was 5-for-13 with two doubles and five strikeouts.
There were no long balls in Arizona’s thin air for Murakami, who walloped 246 home runs in eight seasons in Japan, including 56 in 2022. He could get a hero’s welcome in his homeland. In the last WBC in 2023, Murakami swatted a walk-off double against Mexico in the semifinals and a home run against the United States in the championship game in Miami.
He wants another title.
“I’m going to go into every single game to win it, and that’s my fullest goal,” Murakami said. “Go into the batter’s box with every intention of winning it every single game.”
Venable said he’ll root for his new player, “even when he’s playing Team USA. Maybe not Team Japan as much. Just excited to see him do his thing and be tuned in.”
As first impressions go, Murakami hit one out of the park.
“Just loved the person,” Venable said. “His ability to be part of the group, this young group, his personality has been amazing. What really stuck out is we asked him to do things in his training and preparation that are different than what he’s done in the past. For someone [who has such conviction] in his preparation and who takes it so seriously, to be that adjustable has been cool to see. Excited about getting him back in the White Sox uniform again with the season starting.”
Shortstop Colson Montgomery said Murakami’s English improved just in recent weeks. He has enjoyed random chats about non-baseball things.
“We’ve had good conversations without his translator, and that shows a lot about him, that he’s willing to learn English a lot for the betterment of the team, for us being able to communicate with him, too,” Montgomery said. “He’s teaching us some words. He’s good. He’s a great addition.”
Dodgers 7, Sox 6
Left-hander Sean Newcomb, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million free-agent deal, started and allowed two runs and four hits in two innings. He’s being stretched out as a starter but could pitch in a variety of relief roles, as well. Newcomb struck out two, including former Cub Kyle Tucker to end the second.
• Second-year catcher Kyle Teel made an impression. “He’s a real competitor back there; you can see it in his eyes,” Newcomb said. “He’s got bull horns kind of coming at you. He came out with the third hitter. I expected a how-you-feeling type of thing, and he was like, ‘Get in your legs! Let’s go!’ That kind of fired me up. Looking forward to working with him.”
• Shortstop Tanner Murray, trying to win a job in a utility role, hit his second home run in four games.
• On deck: Rangers at Sox, 2:05 p.m. Friday, Glendale, 1000-AM, MacKenzie Gore vs. Erick Fedde. Sox at Brewers, 2:10 p.m. Friday, Phoenix, Sean Burke vs. Brandon Sproat.