Shotaro Morii, the Oakland Athletics' two-way sensation signed from Japan, will make his full-season debut with the Stockton Ports this week. The 19-year-old is scheduled to both hit and pitch while also playing second base.
Morii joined the organization in January 2025 at age 18 for just over $1.5 million. He has so far only appeared as a hitter during his time in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, including a brief return this season after a minor hamstring injury.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday they are promoting 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin, MLB's No. 1 overall prospect, for his major league debut in Friday's home opener against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park. Griffin, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft, slashed .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases across three minor league levels last season. The move addresses early struggles at shortstop for the 3-3 Pirates.
Munetaka Murakami, who joined the Chicago White Sox this season, overcame a traffic delay to record two hits and two RBIs in his Cactus League debut. The White Sox defeated the Cubs 8-1. The 26-year-old Japanese slugger is beginning to adapt to Major League Baseball.
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Munetaka Murakami launched his first major league home run in the ninth inning of the Chicago White Sox's Opening Day game, securing a hit and dodging a promised haircut from teammate Shohei Ohtani. Despite the White Sox loss, the Japanese slugger made an immediate impact after signing a two-year, $34 million contract. Ohtani watched closely, tracking whether Murakami would go hitless.
Nineteen-year-old prospect Konnor Griffin made his Major League Baseball debut Friday in the Pittsburgh Pirates' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park. Batting seventh and starting at shortstop, Griffin delivered an RBI double in his first at-bat to spark a four-run second inning in Pittsburgh's 5-4 victory before a sellout crowd of 38,986. The ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.