White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami will start a minor league rehab assignment before returning to the team. Manager Will Venable shared the update ahead of Thursday's series opener in Cleveland. Murakami has been sidelined since late May with a hamstring injury.
Munetaka Murakami suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain on May 29 while beating out a double play grounder in a win over the Tigers. The team has not set a specific timeline for his return or the start of the rehab stint.
Venable noted that Murakami has been running in the outfield and is progressing toward running the bases at high intensity. The manager said the player needs to complete two consecutive days of base running and recovery before the assignment begins.
The White Sox have maintained a 15-13 record without Murakami, who leads the team with 20 home runs and a .938 OPS. Venable praised the group's consistency in staying atop the American League Central despite the absence of their top offensive contributor.
Triple-A Charlotte is scheduled to be home next week, though the exact dates for Murakami's rehab remain undecided. The minor league club will be off during the All-Star break.