The Chicago White Sox may have found a superstar at a bargain price in first baseman Munetaka Murakami. The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $34 million contract this past winter in an effort to prove himself in Chicago.
And through 35 games, he is making a convincing case that he deserved a larger deal and that every team unwilling to invest in him made a mistake.
Murakami has posted a .240 batting average, .377 on-base percentage and .961 OPS, helping Chicago outperform expectations as they enter Tuesday with a 17-18 record and third in the American League Central.
He is also tied with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees for the MLB lead with 14 home runs, showcasing his elite power stroke.
© Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Despite Murakami’s red-hot start, he was not selected to MLB’s first edition of Team of the Month. Instead, the league chose Yankees first baseman Ben Rice for his performance during April.
"The first Team of the Month for 2026 is here 🙌," the league wrote on X.
For a rebuilding team like the White Sox, not seeing their best player receive national recognition is frustrating, especially considering how dominant Murakami has been.
But regardless of the snub, one thing is clear: Murakami belongs in MLB, and any preseason doubts about whether his power would translate have been proven wrong.
For now, Murakami remains a foundational piece of the White Sox lineup, doing everything he can to help the club stay competitive. But with such an affordable contract and Chicago still likely a few seasons away from true contention, Murakami may emerge as one of the most intriguing trade candidates at this year’s deadline.
If he keeps producing at this level, the White Sox will soon face a difficult decision about whether to build around him or cash in on one of the league’s most valuable bats.
