Per Passan: White Sox sign Munetaka Murakami 2 years 34M

[caulfield12]

2 hours ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

A few sources report his max recorded bat speed at 85mph, harder to find what his average is other than vague superlatives.

Colson and LRJ were both around 76-78mph average for reference, comfortably in elite territory.

What was Burger in 2022-23 with the Sox?

He was right up there, too.

[Autumn Dreamin]

4 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

What was Burger in 2022-23 with the Sox?

He was right up there, too.

Average is just under 72, 75+ is "fast", only one guy clears 80 (Stanton).

Burger was 76 even in 2023 and has dropped to 74.6 since.

 

[Autumn Dreamin]

He does seem like a fun guy ☺️

Some notes from (various translations of) his media session:

• He's getting along well and having fun with teammates and staff despite being nervous at first. He says everyone has been really nice.
• Answered "every day" when asked what has been the most fun so far
• Says the added attention doesn't bother him since he experienced it in Japan too.
• He wants to keep improving his English, and has to improvise with gestures at times. Has taught teammates some Japanese phrases.
• He talks with Imanaga, Suzuki, Yoshida, and Ohtani regularly. Ohtani has been encouraging.
• They haven't decided yet exactly how many ST games/innings he'll play before leaving for the WBC.
• Looking forward to facing Skenes and Skubal in the WBC since they are reigning Cy winners.
• Still working on getting more comfortable at 1B, is committed to improving as a defender.
• The swing change has been in progress since November, and is aimed at adjusting to higher velo in MLB. His goal is to be a big home run hitter here as well.

Yes, he got asked about bidets (from both US and Japanese media) and he wasn't shy at all in answering. 

• Has told teammates about the many benefits, including being better for the environment by using less TP
• Likes to go before a game, and likes to feel clean when he plays
• At one point he was talking so positively about bidets that a press member joked it sounded like promotion. Mune suggested a bidet sponsorship and when he got laughter in response clarified that he'd be seriously open to it. 

[caulfield12]

27 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

He does seem like a fun guy ☺️

Some notes from (various translations of) his media session:

• He's getting along well and having fun with teammates and staff despite being nervous at first. He says everyone has been really nice.
• Answered "every day" when asked what has been the most fun so far
• Says the added attention doesn't bother him since he experienced it in Japan too.
• He wants to keep improving his English, and has to improvise with gestures at times. Has taught teammates some Japanese phrases.
• He talks with Imanaga, Suzuki, Yoshida, and Ohtani regularly. Ohtani has been encouraging.
• They haven't decided yet exactly how many ST games/innings he'll play before leaving for the WBC.
• Looking forward to facing Skenes and Skubal in the WBC since they are reigning Cy winners.
• Still working on getting more comfortable at 1B, is committed to improving as a defender.
• The swing change has been in progress since November, and is aimed at adjusting to higher velo in MLB. His goal is to be a big home run hitter here as well.

Yes, he got asked about bidets (from both US and Japanese media) and he wasn't shy at all in answering. 

• Has told teammates about the many benefits, including being better for the environment by using less TP
• Likes to go before a game, and likes to feel clean when he plays
• At one point he was talking so positively about bidets that a press member joked it sounded like promotion. Mune suggested a bidet sponsorship and when he got laughter in response clarified that he'd be seriously open to it. 

Too much information lol.

I guess it's better than Nugenix or Viagra.

Hard to over state how different the toilet culture is in Asia.

Ofc you have China with their open holes/squat public toilets that are so uncomfortable for westerners...and having to bring your own toilet paper and never flushing it into the sewers.

Which most find impossible to father.

Japan is next level better in terms of comfort/ease and high tech (heated toilets an absolute must in colder climates), then Taiwan and Korea.

[caulfield12]

https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/schedule/2026-02/list

White Sox getting in four home February spring training games for Murakami "attendance/media boost" ... plus @ Dodgers next Thurs which is really another home game the day before he leaves for the WBC on the 27th.

Also has the reunion in Mesa with Suzuki and Imanaga next Friday in Mesa.

Edited 5 hours ago by caulfield12