For the past few seasons, there has been little to get excited about with the Chicago White Sox. They have been one of the worst teams in baseball these past two seasons. Since the beginning of 2024, they have a record of 101-223, finishing last in the AL Central both seasons. They also set the record for most losses in a season in 2024 with 121. There has not been much to be excited about on the South Side of Chicago. It felt like it would be years before fans had something to cheer about.
However, this season, there is some positivity surrounding the White Sox. Sure, they are only 19-21, but the play of Munetaka Murakami has caught the baseball world’s attention. He is showing that the concerns surrounding him during the offseason may have been overblown. He is one of the best players the White Sox have had in years and has brought excitement back to White Sox baseball. But is Murakami good enough to be a franchise cornerstone?
Can the White Sox Build Their Franchise Around Munetaka Murakami
Through 40 games this season, Murakami has slashed .232/.364/.556 with 15 home runs, 29 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 156. He has quickly established himself as one of the best power hitters in all of baseball. His 15 home runs are good for third in the majors. The only players who have more than him are Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber. His metrics are good too, as he has a .324 ISO, the sixth-best mark in the MLB. This means that he is hitting for power at an elite level.
These numbers are also not the result of luck. According to Baseball Savant, he’s been making great contact with the baseball. He ranks in the 100th percentile of Hard Hit% and in the 98th percentile of Barrel%. This has resulted in him having an average exit velocity of 95.7 mph and a max exit velocity of 114.1 mph. Both of which rank among the best in the league. These numbers indicate that Murakami will be able to sustain these numbers throughout the full season.
The only issue that Murakami has is that he strikes out a lot. This has been a problem for him ever since he started his professional career in Japan. Currently, he has an MLB high of 60 strikeouts. While this is concerning, given his power numbers and a 17.3% walk rate, these concerns lessen. Murakami profiles as a three true outcomes player. We have seen plenty of players who hit for power, walk, and strike out a lot have long, very successful MLB careers.
These numbers set Murakami up to be a middle-of-the-order bat for years to come. If they are able to extend him to a long-term extension, he can be the face of the next White Sox core. They currently have several intriguing prospects like Braden Montgomery, Nick Shultz, and Sam Antonacci, who are in the big leagues or knocking on the door. These three, along with Murakami, can be the foundation that the White Sox build around. It can be a core of players that helps the White Sox get out of the AL Central basement.
While it is still early in Murakami’s career, White Sox fans should be very excited about what they have seen so far. They have found a key piece to the future of their team and someone who will help them become contenders again.
