Chicago White Sox Bolster Roster with Munetaka Murakami’s Bat
The Chicago White Sox have finalized a significant move to strengthen their offense, reaching a two-year, $34 million agreement with prominent Japanese hitter Munetaka Murakami. The official announcement was made this Sunday, marking a milestone for the team. Murakami, 25, entered the posting system on November 7th, which opened a 45-day period to negotiate with Major League teams. The deadline to close the deal expired this Monday at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Due to his age and his eight seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Murakami was not subject to international bonus restrictions. However, he still had to go through the posting system as he had not reached the nine campaigns needed to declare himself a free agent.Murakami has developed his entire career in the NPB with the Yakult Swallows, where he established himself as a key figure. He was the Most Valuable Player in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, participated in four All-Star Games, won the Rookie of the Year award, and led his team to the championship in 2021. Since his professional debut in 2018, Murakami has hit 246 home runs, with five seasons of at least 30 home runs. In his career in Japan, he recorded an offensive line of .270/.394/.557, with an OPS of .951 in 892 games. With this acquisition, the White Sox seek to revitalize their lineup and add an immediate impact in the heart of their offensive order for the next two seasons.Considered one of the most feared hitters in Japanese baseball, Murakami has proven to be a superstar.
Alofoke Deportes
