White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami becoming slugger Guardians’ fans feared he’d be

One of the most surprising moves from the last MLB offseason was Munetaka Murakami signing a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. 

Not only was it surprising that the top player from the international market signed with a lowly White Sox, but also that he signed for such a small amount after he was projected to sign a contract worth $100+ million. 

But that partnership has looked like a clear win through the first month of the season, as Murakami is ending April with a .236/.375/.564 slashline with 12 home runs and 23 RBI. He’s not a complete player, but he’s become the exact kind of slugger he was throughout his career in Nippon Professional Baseball. 

And it seems like an inevitability that he’s going to make some kind of impression when the Guardians take on the White Sox for the first time in the middle of June. 

Munetaka Murakami has a chance to become a long-term Guardians villain 

While the questions about Murakami’s strikeout rate have carried over to stateside (43.2% whiff rate and 33.8% strikeout rate), his unparalleled power has made up for it. 

Not only has he slugged those 12 home runs (which is tied with Aaron Judge for the most in baseball), he’s in the 99th percentile in barrel rate (63.1%) and the 98th percentile in barrel rate (21.5%). He may not make contact all the time, but when he does, it’s loud and hard.

He recorded that 12th home run on Monday in Chicago’s come-from-behind win over the Angels. That homer came in his 29th career game, which is the fourth-most longballs a player has ever hit through that career opening span. 

He’s also on pace for 67 home runs, which would break both the rookie home run record (53) and the American League home run record (62). 

“I remember watching him in the [World Baseball Classic], and this offseason, watching a lot of highlights of him,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said after the game, per MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. “And very successful, obviously in Japan, and it's translating here in the beginning parts of this year here. So it's a great swing with a lot of power.”

A lot of power, indeed. 

That said, his swing seems to have a bit of boom-or-bust to it, as his 16 hits that haven’t left the yard have all been singles. While that’s a trade off the offensively-challenged White Sox will obviously take, it’s still a bit surprising that he hasn’t recorded at least one extra-base hit that hasn’t resulted in him jogging around the bases.

He’s only in the 50th percentile in sprint speed (27.1 feet/sec), so it’s not like he’s going to generate a run with his legs. 

Still, it’s not like his opponents are going to be thinking about that after he demolishes a ball into the second deck. 

Although the Guardians have feasted on the White Sox in years prior, the presence of Murakami in Chicago’s lineup this year changes things.

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