Chicago, April 5: Munetaka Murakami may not surpass Shohei Ohtani in many major league records, but the Chicago White Sox third baseman has made his mark. In a thrilling 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Murakami set a new record for Japanese players by hitting four home runs in his first eight MLB games.
At just 26 years old, Murakami became the first Japanese player to achieve this milestone, as noted by Sarah Langs. His record-setting fourth home run came in the sixth inning when Blue Jays reliever Brendon Little threw a sinker that Murakami sent soaring to center field, marking his first homer at Rate Field.
With this achievement, Murakami surpassed Ohtani, who hit three home runs in his first eight games with the Los Angeles Angels back in 2018.
In the opening week of the 2026 season, Murakami joined an elite group, becoming the fourth player in MLB history to hit three home runs in his first three games. However, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter distinguished himself by hitting his fifth home run in just seven games. Only Trevor Story, who hit seven home runs in his first seven games as a rookie with the Colorado Rockies, has more.
Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox in December. Yahoo Sports’ Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman ranked him as the sixth-best free agent available during the offseason.
In 2021, Murakami won the Japan Central League MVP with the Yakult Swallows, boasting a triple-slash line of .278/.408/.566, with 39 home runs and 122 RBIs. He exceeded those numbers the following season, breaking the legendary Sadaharu Oh’s single-season record with 56 home runs, while achieving a slash line of .318/.458/.710, 134 RBIs, and 118 walks. This performance made him the youngest Triple Crown winner in Nippon Professional Baseball history at just 22 years old.
This season, in 34 plate appearances, Murakami has a .250/.353/.679 slash line, showcasing his power-hitting ability in MLB while also raising questions about his contact hitting.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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