Munetaka Murakami. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

White Sox win sweepstakes for Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Dec 21, 2025 11:38 AM ET

Improving their record by 19 games in 2025 (60-102), the Chicago White Sox will take a step forward in 2026 thanks to their young core of hitters and pitchers.

To kick off their improvement in 2026, the White Sox are bringing in a Japanese slugger, first/third baseman Munetaka Murakami, to give them the big bopper they lacked in 2025. The White Sox ranked 23rd in home runs (165) and 28th in slugging percentage (.373).

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the deal with Murakami is worth $34 million and is two years in length. Known for his power, Murakami hit 56 home runs in 2022, but also struck out 128 times in 487 at-bats (612 plate appearances), which is his Achilles' heel.

Murakami lowered his strikeouts in 2025, swinging and missing 71 times while walking 38, and had a .392 on-base percentage in 69 games.

BREAKING: Third baseman Munetaka Murakami and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $34 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Murakami, 25, is the single-season home run champion in Japan and will bring his prodigious power to a rebuilding White Sox team.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2025

Munetaka Murakami joins one of the top young position player cores in baseball

At 25 (soon to be 26 on Feb. 2), Murakami joins the White Sox at the best time, as they're entering the third year of their rebuild and have one of the best young position player cores. It features infielders Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Miguel Vargas, catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero and top prospect Braden Montgomery, who should debut in 2026.

Munetaka Murakami is expected to play first base for the White Sox. With Murakami, Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Miguel Vargas and Chase Meidroth -- and Braden Montgomery not far behind -- the White Sox's young bats have a chance to be quite good in the coming years.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2025

Despite not having the financial support from ownership to go out and sign a big-name free agent, general manager Chris Getz has assembled a roster that could be competitive in 2026. Still needing to add starting pitching (ranked 29th in innings pitched, 1,416.0), Getz and the White Sox still have some work to do to compete with the likes of the rest of their division.

Though he's been a strikeout king, adding Murakami would be beneficial for manager Will Venable to have in his lineup. The White Sox’s leader in home runs in 2025 was second baseman Lenyn Sosa, who nearly tripled his home run total in 2025 (22) from 2024 (eight). Adding Murakami would give the Sox someone with 30+ home run potential and a nice triple threat of Montgomery, Sosa and Murakami.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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