Japanese star Munetaka Murakami has agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, betting on himself for a potential bigger payday at age 28. The deal comes despite concerns over his strikeout rates and defensive skills. At 25, Murakami brings elite power potential to the team.
Munetaka Murakami, one of the most prominent names in this year's class of players from Nippon Professional Baseball, has signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. The agreement, confirmed on December 21, 2025, allows the 25-year-old left-handed slugger to re-enter free agency as a 28-year-old, positioning him to capitalize on a successful MLB transition.
Murakami rose to international fame with the Yakult Swallows, where he smashed 56 home runs in 2022, breaking Sadaharu Oh's single-season record for a Japan-born player that had stood since 1964. He entered MLB free agency via the posting system on November 8, with a 45-day window to sign. His performance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic further boosted his profile: he hit a walk-off double to defeat Mexico in the semifinals and homered off Merrill Kelly in the championship game.
Scouts grade Murakami's power at an elite 70 or 80 on MLB's 20-80 scale, but questions persist about his translation to the majors. His strikeout rate has hovered near 30 percent over the past three seasons in NPB, a lower-strikeout environment than MLB. Since 2022, his contact rate against fastballs of 93 mph or faster is only 63 percent, dropping to 51 percent against secondary pitches in 2025. "That just kind of is who he is, so the strikeout percentage is going to be there," a National League Pacific Rim scout told The Athletic. "It’s just going to be, ‘Can he get to enough home-run damage to make it worth it?’ Is it going to be closer to Kyle Schwarber production or Joey Gallo production?"
Defensively, Murakami is seen as below average and best suited for first base, despite experience at third. Injuries have also plagued him recently: a broken toe ended his 2024 season, followed by offseason elbow surgery and an oblique injury that limited him to 56 games in 2025. Despite these red flags, the White Sox paid a premium for his upside, viewing him as a young hitter capable of captivating the sport with his bat.