Munetaka Murakami is having a highly productive but busy 2026 Spring Training as he transitions to Major League Baseball. After signing a two-year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox in December, he has been splitting his time between the White Sox camp in Arizona and playing for Team Japan.

Spring Training Performance (Chicago White Sox)

Murakami has made a strong impression in limited Cactus League action, showing off the exit velocity that made him a Triple Crown winner in Japan.

• Recent Highlight: In his first game back from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on March 17, 2026, he hit his first spring home run—a solo “moonshot” to centerfield against the Oakland Athletics.
  
• Stats: Before leaving for the WBC, he was batting .385 (5-for-13). As of his latest game, he has 6 hits and 3 RBIs in 16 total plate appearances.
  
• The Power: His first hit of the spring was a single clocked at 108.3 mph, confirming his raw power translates to MLB-level pitching.
  
• The Adjustment: While the power is there, he has struck out 5 times and has yet to draw a walk, which coaches suggest is part of his aggressive adjustment period to the MLB strike zone.
  
  

World Baseball Classic (Team Japan)

Murakami briefly left White Sox camp to represent Japan. While Japan’s bid for a repeat title ended in a quarterfinal loss to Venezuela, Murakami had standout moments:

• Grand Slam: He hit a 425-foot grand slam against Czechia with an exit velocity of 112.5 mph.
  
• WBC Stats: He finished the tournament slashing .211/.286/.368 with 5 RBIs and a stolen base.
  

Role and Outlook

• Position Change: Although he was primarily a third baseman in Japan, the White Sox have him working almost exclusively at first base.
  
• Status: Manager Will Venable has praised his conditioning and how quickly he has connected with teammates. Murakami himself has stated he feels “much better” and is seeing the ball more clearly as the regular season approaches.
  

The White Sox conclude their spring schedule on March 23, and Murakami is slated to make his official MLB debut on March 26 in Milwaukee.