Munetaka Murakami ties Yankees' Aaron Judge with 14th HR

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) gestures to the dugout after a double in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami ties Yankees' Aaron Judge with 14th HR

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated May 5, 2026 12:20 AM ET

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Chicago White Sox Japanese rookie Munetaka Murakami is a man on a home run mission.

Murakami belted a 429-foot homer against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, tying Aaron Judge with his 14th home run of the season.

The 26-year-old has been on an absolute tear at the plate, including a five-game home run streak that made history.

It is unbelievable to think that, before making his debut and transitioning into MLB, scouts had concerns about him hitting fastballs.

MUNETAKA MURAKAMI!

He ties Aaron Judge for the MLB home run lead with No. 14! pic.twitter.com/2flNFsZgbT
— MLB (@MLB) May 5, 2026

Munetaka Murakami is the man of the hour

Even going as far as to say that Murakami's biggest flaw was hitting pitches over 94 mph. Well, he sure proved them wrong by crushing a fastball up and away at 98 mph!

But isn't that what baseball is all about? Defying the odds, especially as a Japanese rookie who's never played at the major league level.

Murakami's swing has made a statement, and at the pace he is going, he could hit over 50 home runs this season. He is one of the most elite rookies off to a scorching hot start this season.

Murakami can't be stopped, and his power is limitless, making him a prime candidate to win the Home Run Derby this year. He is even exceeding Shohei Ohtani's initial early pace in his first 20 games, which is unbelievable.

Keeping in mind that he isn't a two-way player like Ohtani, but still upholds the reputation as the next elite Japanese star in MLB.

His historic start stems from being a former triple crown winner in Japan in 2022. All in all, the sky is the limit for Murakami as he will look to continue making White Sox history this season.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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