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Munetaka Murakami

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Munetaka Murakami
Murakami with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Chicago White Sox – No. 5
First baseman / Third baseman
Born: (2000-02-02) February 2, 2000 (age 26)
Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: September 16, 2018, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
MLB: March 26, 2026, for the Chicago White Sox
NPB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.270
Home runs246
Runs batted in647
MLB statistics
(through July 12, 2026)
Batting average.232
Home runs20
Runs batted in42
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
NPB
MLB
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
Summer Olympics
Gold medal – first place2020 TokyoTeam
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place2023 MiamiTeam

Munetaka Murakami (村上 宗隆, Murakami Munetaka; born February 2, 2000) is a Japanese professional baseball infielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. His NPB nickname, "Murakami-sama", was given by fans because his feats at the plate could only be done by a kami-sama, or “god.”[2] His nickname was Japan's word of the year for 2022.[3]

Amateur career

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Munetaka started playing baseball at five years of age. He entered Kyushū Gakuin Integrated High School where he became their team's regular first baseman and cleanup hitter. They made it to the 2015 Koshien national tournaments in his first year but were defeated in the first round. He then played catcher in his second and third years, but they did not make it to any national tournaments. He hit a total of 52 home runs in high school,[4] and his slugging prowess earned him the nickname "Babe Ruth of Higo", Higo being the former name of Kumamoto Prefecture.[5]

Professional career

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Tokyo Yakult Swallows

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Despite not getting a lot of media exposure from appearances in national games, he was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NPB Draft by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Yomiuri Giants and the Rakuten Golden Eagles, as an alternative pick after they lost Kōtarō Kiyomiya to the Nippon Ham Fighters.[6] The Swallows won the lottery, and signed him for a contract of 80 million yen and a 7.2 million yen annual salary. He was assigned jersey number 55.[7]

2018

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He spent most of the season playing in Eastern League (minors) games. He batted at .311 in 28 games until the end of April, with 3 home runs and 20 RBI.[8] In June, he got awarded League MVP of the month for batting .315 and driving in 14 runs, last accomplished by a Swallows rookie in 2011 by Tetsuto Yamada.[9] He also got voted into the Fresh All Star games in July. He continued to play well in the following months, and finally got the chance to play in the main squad on the September 16 game against the Hiroshima Carp. He debuted as the starting third baseman, and hit a home run in his first at-bat.[10] But after failing to record a hit in his next 5 appearances, he was sent back to the farm and ended the season there. He finished with a batting average of .288, 17 home runs, 70 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in the minors.[11] After the season, he won both the Eastern League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards and was given a 800,000 yen pay rise, bringing his annual salary to 8 million yen.[12]

2019

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2019 was Murakami's breakout season. On February 27, he was selected to play for the Japan national baseball team at the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico.[13] His great performance during the preseason exhibition games earned him the third base spot in the season-opener. This made him the youngest Swallows player to start in the season opening game at 19 years old, beating the previous record of 21 year-old Seikichi Nishioka in 1958.[14] He hit his 10th home run by May 10, and managed to secure the cleanup position by May 12.[15] He got voted into his first All-Star Game in July where he got top votes for third base, and was also selected for the Home Run Derby showdown.[16] On August 12, he hit his first walk-off home run against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and became the youngest NPB player to achieve this feat.[17] He hit his 30th home run by August 22, and became the first Central League player drafted out of high school to notch at least 30 home runs within 2 years from his debut.[18] On September 4, he broke the NPB RBI record of high school-drafted players in their second season by notching his 87th RBI.[19] He was the only Swallows player to appear in all of the team's 143 games, and despite batting only .231, he topped the team in home runs with 36 which tied the NPB home-run record for second-year rookies,[clarification needed] and finished second in RBI with 96. He also set a record for most strikeouts for a Japanese player with 184.[20] His performance earned him the 2019 CL Rookie of the Year Award,[21] and a 37 million yen pay rise which more than quadrupled his previous salary to 45 million yen.[22]

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This section needs expansion with: 2020 season missing. You can help by adding missing information. (May 2026)

2021

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Murakami won the Central League MVP award following the 2021 season by hitting the league-leading 39 home runs, driving in 112 RBIs and drawing 106 walks while slashed .278/.408/.566.[23][24] In the Japan Series, Murakami hit two home runs to help the Tokyo Yakult Swallows capture their first title after 20 years.

2022

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In 2022, Murakami became the first NPB player to hit a home run in five consecutive plate appearances, spanning two games.[25][26] On September 13, Murakami hit his 55th home run of the season, tying Sadaharu Oh for the most home runs by a Japanese player in a season, and for second in NPB overall, alongside Alex Cabrera, Tuffy Rhodes, and Oh. Unfortunately for Murakami, he would go on a slump, going 48 straight at-bats without a home run, but on the final day of the regular season, on October 3, 2022, Murakami would hit his 56th home run of the season, breaking Oh's record for the most home runs by a Japanese-born player.[27][28][29] He also became the first person who plays offense to win the NPB Triple Crown since Nobuhiko Matsunaka of the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 2004, and the first by a Central League player since Randy Bass of the Hanshin Tigers in 1986, and the youngest player to win the Triple Crown, at 22 years, eight months, and one day old at the conclusion of the 2022 regular season.[30] He then proceeded to win the Central League MVP in a unanimous vote, becoming the first player since Masahiro Tanaka in 2013 and the first position player since Sadaharu Oh in 1977 to win the MVP ballot unanimously.[31]

2023–2025

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After the 2022 season, Murakami signed a three-year contract extension worth 600 million yen per year, which stipulated that the Swallows had to post him to Major League Baseball (MLB) after the 2025 season.[32]

Murakami was not as productive in 2023 and 2024. His batting average fell from .318 in 2022 to .256 in 2023 and .244 in 2024. His strikeout and walk rates also worsened: his strikeout rate went from 21% to 28% to 30% while his walk rate dropped from 19.3% in 2022 to 14.3% in 2025.

In 2025, Murakami suffered an oblique injury in spring training. He returned to the Swallows on April 17, but re-aggravated his oblique upon his return. He returned again to the Swallows on July 29.[33] Murakami played in 65 games during 2025 season, slashing .273/.379/.663 with 22 HRs and 47 RBIs.

Per his contract, Murakami was officially posted to MLB on November 7, 2025. A 45-day negotiating window began on November 8.[34]

Chicago White Sox

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On December 21, 2025, Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.[35] Murakami made his MLB debut on March 26, 2026. During the opening series, Murakami became the first player in White Sox history and fourth player in MLB history to homer in each of the first three games of their career.[36] On April 17, he hit his first major league grand slam over the batter's eye at Sutter Health Park, the temporary home of the Athletics.[37] On May 1, he led the majors with 13 home runs.[38] He hit his first MLB double on May 4 after 14 previous home runs, setting the record for most home runs hit to begin a career before hitting a double or triple.[39] On May 30, Murakami was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain.[40]

On July 10, Murakami was named to the American League All Star Team, as a replacement for Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton.[41] He also competed in the 2026 Home Run Derby, however he was eliminated in the first round after failing to hit enough home runs to advance.[42]

International career

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Murakami with the WBC Japan national team at Tokyo Dome on March 16, 2023

Murakami represented Japan in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), with the host team winning the gold medal.[43]

Murakami played for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). After struggling during most of the tournament and going 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts in the semifinal against Mexico, Murakami hit a walk-off two-run double to help Japan prevail 6–5.[44] In the final against the defending champion United States, Murakami led off the bottom of the second inning with a first-pitch home run off Merrill Kelly to tie the game.[45] Japan went on to win the championship game 3–2, claiming its third WBC title.[46]

Murakami joined team Japan again for the 2026 WBC. He hit a grand slam against Czechia in pool play,[47] before Japan lost to Venezuela, the eventual tournament champions, in the knockout stage.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Coskrey, Jason (October 4, 2022). "Munetaka Murakami earns place in NPB history with dominant season". The Japan Times. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  2. ↑ "This Year in Japanese Murakami-sama: Baseball Star the Word of the Year for 2022". Nippon.com. December 1, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Yakult Swallows slugger "Murakami-sama" tops Japan 2022 buzzword list. Also known as SOUTHSIDE Samurai by Sox fans". Kyodo News. December 1, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  4. ↑ 赤尾, 裕希 (December 22, 2017). "ヤクルトＤ１・村上、バレ＆山田に弟子入り志願「打撃論聞きたい」". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  5. ↑ 須藤, 佳裕 (October 27, 2017). "燕１位に「肥後のベーブ・ルース」九州学院高・村上／ドラフト" ["Babe Ruth of Higo" Kyushu Gakuin High School's Murakami is the Swallows' first pick in the draft]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  6. ↑ "ヤクルトは外れ１位で九州学院・村上 ３球団競合". Nikkan Sports. October 26, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  7. ↑ "ヤクルト１位村上は55番！目指すは燕のゴジラだ". Nikkan Sports. November 12, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ 横山尚杜 (May 2, 2018). "【球界ここだけの話（１２５８）】ヤクルトＤ１・村上宗隆、イースタンで不動のレギュラー 三木２軍チーフコーチが魅力を語る". Sankei Sports. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ "【ヤクルト】ドラ１村上がファーム月間ＭＶＰ". Sports Hochi. July 11, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  10. ↑ "ヤクルト・ドラ１村上が衝撃デビュー 高卒新人史上７人目の初打席初本塁打". Daily Sports. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ "イースタン・リーグ表彰 | 2018年 表彰選手". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  12. ↑ "ヤクルト村上80万増 「本塁打1本ではまだまだ」". Nikkan Sports. November 21, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  13. ↑ "ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019「日本 vs メキシコ」に出場するメンバー28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  14. ↑ "ヤクルトＶ奪回新打線！「６番」村上、球団三塁最年少１９歳１カ月開幕スタメンへ" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. March 29, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  15. ↑ "ヤクルト青木、山田哲人スタメン外れ４番に村上宗隆". Nikkan Sports. May 12, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  16. ↑ "ヤクルト村上逆転で球宴切符「自分のスイング」貫く" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. June 24, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  17. ↑ "ヤクルト・村上、史上最年少サヨナラ弾！山崎砕いた逆転２５号２ラン" (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. August 13, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  18. ↑ "村上が高卒２年目セ初30号、10代初の月間10発" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. August 22, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  19. ↑ "ヤクルト村上が高卒2年目以内の歴代最多打点に 87打点で中西太を超える". Full-Count (in Japanese). September 4, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  20. ↑ "ヤクルト村上174Ｋセ界記録更新「また明日から」". Nikkan Sports. September 14, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  21. ↑ "新人王はセがヤクルトの村上、パがソフトバンクの高橋礼". Sankei Sports. November 26, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  22. ↑ "ヤクルト・村上が４５００万円で更改 新人王で５倍に". Sankei Sports. December 16, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Rising stars Munetaka Murakami and Yoshinobu Yamamoto named MVPS of 2021 NPB season". December 15, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Munetaka Murakami Japanese Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  25. ↑ Lindbergh, Ben (September 15, 2022). "Baseball's Best Young Hitter and Pitcher Play in Japan". The Ringer. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  26. ↑ Karasawa, Yuri (August 25, 2022). "Munetaka Murakami's March Towards History". JapanBall. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  27. ↑ "It's not just Judge: Slugger chasing HR record an ocean away". MLB.com. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Baseball: Munetaka Murakami celebrates youngest Triple Crown with 56th homer". Mainichi Daily News. October 3, 2022. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Japan's Munetaka Murakami gets into home run act, too". AP News. October 3, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Murakami celebrates youngest Triple Crown with 56th homer". Kyodo News+. October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  31. ↑ Adler, David (January 26, 2025). "Roki is here. This superstar slugger could be next". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Baseball: Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to be posted to MLB after 2025". The Mainichi.
  33. ↑ Karasawa, Yuri. "NPB: How Good is Munetaka Murakami Right Now?". World Baseball Network. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  34. ↑ Feinsand, Mark (November 7, 2025). "Japanese slugger Murakami set to be posted". MLB. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  35. ↑ Passan, Jeff (December 21, 2025). "Japan HR record-setter Munetaka Murakami joining White Sox". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  36. ↑ "These hitters started out with homer after homer". MLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  37. ↑ Wagaman, Michael (April 18, 2026). "'A majestic blast': Murakami mashes 1st grand slam in Sox outburst". MLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  38. ↑ Pope, LaMond (May 2, 2026). "Munetaka Murakami's MLB-leading 13th HR fuels Chicago White Sox to 8-2 win: 'Centerpiece of the team'". Yahoo Sports. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  39. ↑ Adams, Robin (May 5, 2026). "Chicago White Sox: Munetaka Murakami ties MLB lead for home runs, finally hits 1st career double". ChiCitySports. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  40. ↑ Merkin, Scott. "Murakami (right hamstring strain) to miss 4 to 6 weeks". MLB. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Here are the 2026 All-Star Game roster replacements". MLB.com. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  42. ↑ Camerato, Jessica. "Murakami leaves impact on HR Derby despite 1st-round exit". MLB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  43. ↑ Coskrey, Jason (June 16, 2021). "Masahiro Tanaka and Tomoyuki Sugano highlight Samurai Japan squad for Tokyo Games". The Japan Times. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  44. ↑ Baer, Jack (March 20, 2023). "World Baseball Classic: Japan advances to final with walk-off win over Mexico". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Munetaka Murakami crushes a solo home run in the 2nd | March 21, 2023". MLB.com (video). March 21, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  46. ↑ "United States, Japan - 03/21/2023 | Game Video Highlights | MLB Film Room". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  47. ↑ Kano, Shintaro (March 10, 2026). "2026 World Baseball Classic: Munetaka Murakami rips grand slam as 4-0 Japan perfect in pool play". Retrieved April 23, 2026.
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