Murakami’s Spring Training Debut

On Friday, Munetaka Murakami had a notable debut in spring training with the White Sox, but it wasn’t without its challenges, mainly due to heavy traffic.

About half an hour before the game, which the White Sox won 8-1 against the Cubs, the team revealed that Murakami was delayed due to an unfortunate traffic incident. He had a bit of a scrape, nothing major, but it certainly added to his stress.

However, shortly after, he was back in the starting lineup, ready to take the field.

“Oh my god!” Murakami exclaimed in English. “I was really worried about making it in time,” he shared, through interpreter Kenzo Yagi. “There was a major accident on the highway, and I was anxious the whole way. I was actually still in the car at 12:50,” he added, which was just 15 minutes before the first pitch.

Despite the last-minute rush, Murakami demonstrated why the White Sox decided to acquire him during the offseason. In his second at-bat, he made a solid impact by hitting a single to center field at an impressive speed of 168.3 mph, according to Statcast.

In his following at-bat, he managed to hit a two-run double to center, taking advantage of a misplay by Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who couldn’t locate the ball in the sun. After the game, Suzuki lightheartedly remarked to reporters that he wasn’t exactly cheering for Murakami’s hit.

“After the pop-up, I didn’t want him to succeed, so I can’t root for him,” joked Suzuki, although he quickly clarified it was all in good fun.

White Sox manager Will Venable was full of praise for Murakami, highlighting his adaptability as he adjusts to playing in the U.S.

“Mune deserves a lot of credit,” Venable said. “He’s incredibly dedicated and professional. We asked him to adapt to some things outside his comfort zone, but his preparation and flexibility have been impressive.”

The White Sox signed Murakami for two years at $34 million back in December, amid interest from various MLB clubs.