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<\/p>\nWhite Sox general manager Chris Getz heaped seemingly risky praise on Munetaka Murakami when he introduced the Japanese slugger in a news conference at the Rate three days before Christmas.<\/p>\n
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Getz raised eyebrows when he called Murakami \u201cone of the most prolific power hitters on the planet.\u201d But he looks spot-on prophetic.<\/p>\n
Murakami went deep again in a 5-4 White Sox victory over the Nationals on Friday, launching a solo blast to center off Miles Mikolas in the fourth innings that got their attack started. The Sox finally went ahead for good on rookie Sam Antonacci\u2019s tie-breaking sacrifice fly that scored Miguel Vargas in the eighth. Seranthony Dominguez worked around a double in the ninth for his sixth save as the South Siders ended a six-game home losing streak.<\/p>\n
With six homers in his last seven games, Murakami now has 11 and tied the Astros\u2019 Yordan Alvarez for the major-league lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, it was a bold statement and I appreciate him going out there and hitting for power and supporting the statement,\u201d Getz said. \u201cThat statement is driven by how much power you know is in that swing, in that body. But we know that it\u2019s easier said than done to go out there and hit for power.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he\u2019s really dialed it in fairly quickly in this league, which you never know until he get the at-bats under his belt. But thankfully for the White Sox, he\u2019s gone out there and performed well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murakami has 11 home runs in 26 games. He tied the MLB rookie record by homering in five consecutive games \u2014 three against the Athletics two against the Diamondbacks \u2014 on the Sox\u2019 just-completed 4-2 road trip.<\/p>\n
Murakami then upped it to six in his last seven. That tied a Sox record for 11 drives in March\/April of a season set by Paul Konerko in 2010.<\/p>\n
The streak might seem impressive, even in Japan. But not for Murakami.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Japan, I hit five [homers] in at-bats in a row,\u201d he told reporters through an interpreter. \u201cYeah, I\u2019ve got some records.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for tying for the MLB home-run lead at this point?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long season,\u201d Murakami said. \u201cSo when I end the season and look back, I hope there\u2019s many home runs under my belt.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Yep, Murakami has struck out 35 times in his first 109 plate appearance. That was expected after he fanned 25% of the time in eight seasons in Japan. But with the Sox, he was batting .253 with 22 hits and 21 walks, and scored 19 runs in a suddenly productive attack.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old first baseman\u2019s overall plate presence, not just his power, isn\u2019t lost on Getz.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2009\u2018Mune\u2019 is a prime example of someone that\u2019s punishing, you know, certain pitches in the zone,\u201d Getz said. \u201cBut anything outside the zone, he\u2019s taking and earning those walks and other player are exemplifying that as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe creates plenty of action and the action is either with his bat and when he doesn\u2019t swing and takes walks. That level of patience potentially brings more opportunities for guys that are coming up to the plate with him on base.\u201d<\/p>\n
Getz also saluted Murakami\u2019s work ethic that he called \u201ctop of the scale\u201d and extends to defensive work and baserunning.<\/p>\n
Murakami entered Friday tied for second in homers with 22-year-old Nationals slugger James Wood, who had gone deep in three consecutive games to reach 10.<\/p>\n
First-year Nationals manager Blake Butera has been impressed with Wood \u2014 and Murakami \u2014 as the two young boppers meet in a potential power show on the South Side this weekend.<\/p>\n
The 6-6, 234-pound Wood, along with shortstop CJ Abrams, have been producing big-time for the Nats. Both were acquired from the Padres in August 2022 in the blockbuster deal that sent Juan Soto and Josh Bell out west.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Wood walked three times without a hit. He struck out twice, including with the tying run on third, to end the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat \u2018Woody\u2019 does really well is he\u2019s able to let the ball travel such a long time,\u201d Butera said. \u201cAnd with his bat speed \u2014 and obviously the size and strength that he has \u2014 he can wait just longer to make decisions whether to swing or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Butera said he had his eye on where Murakami might land in the majors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve kind of stayed up to date on how he\u2019s doing,\u201d Butera said. \u201cI know it\u2019s not always easy for Japanese players to come over to the U.S. and jump right into this and have success right away. But it seems like he is doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CTC-SOX-NATIONALS-042426-19.jpg?w=1024&h=698\")
<\/p>\n
Sox notebook: Kyle Teel still not ready for a rehab assignment.<\/p>\n
Sox starter Davis Martin turned in another strong outing to close out a momentum-building road trip.<\/p>\n
The 6-8 left-hander hasn\u2019t given up a run this month and figures to stick around a high-turnover bullpen.<\/p>\n
The Sox have racked up 15 home runs in their last five games, with Vargas, Montgomery and Murakami accounting for 12.<\/p>\n
White Sox general manager Chris Getz heaped seemingly risky praise on Munetaka Murakami when he introduced the Japanese slugger in a news conference at the Rate three… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":180049,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-180046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n