Munetaka Murakami
Breakdown
Performance
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April 15, 2026
Launches late home run
Murakami went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, two walks and an additional run scored during the White Sox's 8-5 loss to the Rays on Tuesday.
Analysis
The Rays held a comfortable 8-3 lead in the ninth inning, but Murakami made the score more respectable after smacking a two-run homer off Yoendrys Gomez. It was Murakami's first home run since April 4 and fifth of the year, which leads the White Sox and is tied for fourth most in the American League. He has demonstrated power early on in his first major-league season but has just a .167 batting average on 70 plate appearances and a 33.8 percent strikeout rate, and his 39.2 percent whiff rate is one of the worst in MLB.
April 11, 2026
Strikes out twice Saturday
Murakami went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts during the White Sox's 2-0 loss to the Royals on Saturday.
Analysis
Murakami opened his first MLB season strongly with three home runs in three consecutive games and was up to four homers and seven RBI through eight contests. However, he has cooled off at the plate of late, going 1-for-20 with six walks, three runs scored and nine strikeouts in his past seven games. These types of growing pains are to be expected for Murakami, but he'll have plenty of runway to work on his game after signing a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox in December.