Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Munetaka Murakami makes major impact on MLB

When Munetaka Murakami signed a two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) worth US$34 million, it seemed that MLB clubs didn't rate the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist and WBSC Premier12 superstar among the potential great hitters. His lucrative contract was nowhere near the New York Mets Juan Soto's $51m per year. Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees make $40m or more. Top-class MLB hitters have salaries ranging from US$35 million to US$45 million per season.

During his presentation, Murakami had a humble approach. He said through an interpreter, "By putting this uniform on, I feel I have finally reached the start line. I'm incredibly honoured and excited to be able to play in front of these incredible fans."

Back home, his status was stardom. Born in 2000, a left-handed hitter, Murakami starred since High School, earning the nickname The Babe Ruth of Higo. The Tokyo Yakult Swallows drafted him in 2017, and Murakami made his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) debut in 2018.

After helping Japan to the Tokyo 2020 Gold Medal, Murakami led the Swallows to the 2021 Japan Series title and earned the Central League MVP honours. He repeated as Central League MVP in 2022 and also surpassed Sadaharu Oh's single-season home run record with 56, on the way to a Triple Crown. In 2022, his nickname Murakami-sama (in Japanese, a kami-sama is a deity) was Japan's word of the year.

In 2024, Murakami became the youngest player to reach the NPB 200 home run milestone.

Murakami has always gone double digits in home runs during his eight-year NPB career, combining 246 home runs and 647 RBIs in 892 games. His main defensive position (696) has been third base. He also played at first base and in the outfield.

Then the MLB season began.

Murakami homered in his first MLB game on March 26 in Milwaukee and added in the following two games. He got a hit in every game he played in March, going 5-for-18.

In April he went 17-for-69, but homered in five consecutive games from April 17 to 22.

Murakami was Japan's starting third baseman at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and mostly played at third for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. The White Sox started him at first base in 22 out of 24 games, with Murakami playing DH in two games, and he showed he is comfortable at the position.

"Of course, I'm very happy about the home runs, but most of all, I'm glad I can help the team win," Murakami said through an interpreter in an interview with the Chicago White Sox official TV station.

The White Sox sat in fourth place in the American League Central with a 10-15 record as of Friday, April 24, trailing the first-place Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers by 3.5 games.

"Our lineup is doing well and we want to continue delivering," Murakami added.

Murakami's power swings came mostly on off-speed pitches. "Pitchers have been mixing their pitch selection recently," Murakami commented. "They delivered a lot of breaking stuff. Still, I'm seeing the ball very well, and I try to hit the ball as hard as I can."

Before finishing the interview, Murami switched to English and stated, with a smile, "Keep going!"

It's still early season, but Munetaka Murakami has already his name printed in the history books.

Cover photo: WBCI/MLB Photos by Getty Images.