Munetaka Murakami addresses his future with the White Sox

Chicago White Sox fans must be loving what slugger Munetaka Murakami said during the MLB All-Star break.

The hard-hitting Japanese first baseman voiced his desire to stay with the White Sox for years to come when the topic of an extension contract was brought up, according to James Fegan of Sox Machine.

“All-Star first baseman Munetaka Murakami said he’s not thinking or talking specifics about contract extensions right now, but affirmed that he would like to stay with the White Sox long-term,” Fegan wrote in a post on X.

The White Sox landed Murakami during the winter on a 2-year, $34 million contract. He appears to be playing above that value so far in his time with Chicago. Through the first half of his first season in the big leagues, Murakami has hit .232/.371/.540 with 20 home runs and 42 RBIs across 60 games.

The  26-year-old Murakami power has been his biggest asset, and if the White Sox could keep his bat for years beyond his current contract, that would be a boost for the club’s outlook. 

But until he puts pen to paper for an extension, there will always be speculations about a potential departure after his deal expires in 2027.