The White Sox made their most significant free agent acquisition in years on Saturday, agreeing to terms with Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami on a two-year, $34 million contract. The deal, which was announced by the team on Sunday, brings one of the most prolific power hitters from Nippon Professional Baseball to the South Side and signals a new direction for a franchise coming off three consecutive 100-loss seasons.
Murakami, 25, will receive a non-roster invitation to spring training and is expected to play first base for Chicago. The White Sox will also pay a posting fee of approximately $6.6 million to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, bringing the total cost of the deal to just over $40 million.
Breaking Records in Japan
The left-handed hitting Murakami made history in 2022 when he crushed 56 home runs to break Sadaharu Oh's 58-year-old NPB record for most home runs in a single season by a Japanese-born player. That season also saw him win the Triple Crown with a .318 batting average, 56 homers, and 134 RBIs, earning him the second of back-to-back Central League MVP awards.
Over eight seasons with the Swallows, Murakami hit .273/.394/.550 with 265 home runs in 1,003 games. His 90th percentile exit velocity would have ranked fifth in MLB last season, with a maximum exit velocity that would have placed 12th and a hard-hit rate that would have been first.
Most recently, Murakami showed he was fully healthy in 2025, hitting 22 home runs in just 56 games while posting a .663 slugging percentage and 1.043 OPS after returning from an oblique injury.
The Contract and What It Means
The two-year structure of the deal is notable, as it will allow Murakami to hit free agency again at age 27 if he successfully adjusts to MLB pitching. This shorter-term approach appears designed to give both sides flexibility—the White Sox limit their risk on a player whose game has some significant question marks, while Murakami positions himself for a much larger payday down the road if he performs well.
The $34 million guarantee is substantially less than many projections for Murakami's contract. For context, Masataka Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Red Sox three years ago, which remains the richest contract ever given to a Japanese position player. The market for Murakami appears to have been tempered by concerns about his ability to make consistent contact against MLB pitching.
The Questions About His Game
While Murakami's power is unquestioned, his strikeout rate has been a red flag for talent evaluators. He's struck out at least 28% of the time in each of the last three NPB seasons, with his in-zone contact rate of 72.6% last season ranking as what would have been second-lowest in MLB.
Most NPB hitters see their strikeout rates jump when they transition to MLB. Seiya Suzuki, for instance, saw his K rate increase from 16.5% to 24.7% in his first MLB season. If Murakami follows a similar trajectory, he could be striking out in 30% or more of his plate appearances.
There are also questions about his defense. While Murakami has played both corner infield positions in Japan—primarily third base—he's expected to spend most of his time at first base or designated hitter in Chicago, where his bat will need to carry his value.
What This Means for the White Sox
For a franchise that hit just 165 home runs last season—14th of 15 teams in the American League—adding a player with Murakami's power potential addresses a glaring need. General manager Chris Getz was direct about what the signing means for the lineup.
"To add power is something we need, we desperately need," Getz said at Monday's introductory press conference. "So, of the left-handed variety, too, which is always really attractive in our game, just based on how many righties are in our league. It's a significant force in the lineup. I mean, there's no question about it."
The White Sox infield now projects to feature Murakami at first base alongside shortstop Colson Montgomery, second baseman Chase Meidroth, and third baseman Miguel Vargas. It's a young group with considerable power potential—Montgomery and Vargas combined for 41 home runs last season—though it's also a lineup that could struggle with strikeouts.
Breaking New Ground
Murakami's signing represents a return to the international market for the White Sox, who haven't been a popular destination for Japanese players in recent years. The last time a Japanese player made a significant impact for the franchise was during the 2005 World Series championship season, when second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and closer Shingo Takatsu—who coincidentally managed Murakami in Japan—contributed to the title run.
The organization credited international scouting director David Keller and scout Satoshi Takahashi for their work in establishing a presence in Japan and securing the deal. White Sox discussions about signing Murakami began in August, were revisited in November, and intensified at the Winter Meetings in Orlando before the deal came together last week.
First Impressions
At Monday's press conference at Rate Field, Murakami immediately made an impression with his personality and enthusiasm. He opened his statement in English with "Hello. My name is Munetaka Murakami. White Sox Nation, you guys are in my heart," before pulling out a pair of white socks and proclaiming "White Sox!"
White Sox hitting coach Derek Shomon highlighted the 25-year-old's character as a key factor in the signing. "The biggest thing to highlight is the personality," Shomon said. "This is a young guy that wants to compete. This guy wants to work, and he wants to win. There's alignment there with what's already happening on the South Side."
Murakami, speaking through interpreter David Yamamoto, expressed confidence in his decision and the organization's direction. "I felt the White Sox were the best fit for myself, and they would help me become the best player I am," he said. "I really believe in the vision of this organization."
Looking Ahead
Murakami will wear No. 5 and compete for a roster spot during spring training, though his $17 million annual salary makes it clear the White Sox expect him to be a major contributor from day one. The two-year timeline also adds pressure—both Murakami and the organization will want to see immediate results given the short-term nature of the commitment.
For a White Sox team that won just 121 games over the past three seasons combined, adding a player with Murakami's ceiling represents a significant step forward. Whether he can overcome his contact issues and translate his NPB success to MLB remains to be seen, but the White Sox believe they're getting a building block for their future.
"Obviously I've heard that this club has lost a lot of games in the past, but that is in the past. I only look forward," Murakami said. "I'm excited with the exciting young players that this club has, and I'm ready to take on that challenge to grow with the group and hope to build something really special here."
With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft already secured through the draft lottery and a new coaching staff in place, the White Sox finally have some pieces to build around. Murakami's bat could be the catalyst that begins to change the narrative on the South Side.