1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Does anyone have more details or an article on how he was horrible against fastballs at 93+ MPH?

His swing doesn't look particularly long to me I think it was probably just a product of being one of the most scouted players in the league and how in Japan almost every pitcher has an arsenal of off speed junk even if they are topping out at 92. If a Japanese pitcher is hitting 93+ he's probably on the verge of being good enough for MLB.

He's gonna strike out like 200 times. But can he hit 240/300/500? We'll see.

3 hours ago, WestEddy said:

That would be my guess, but he also plays RF, so maybe. 

Not well though...LF arm and basically a statue out there..

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by caulfield12

7 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

His swing doesn't look particularly long to me I think it was probably just a product of being one of the most scouted players in the league and how in Japan almost every pitcher has an arsenal of off speed junk even if they are topping out at 92. If a Japanese pitcher is hitting 93+ he's probably on the verge of being good enough for MLB.

He's gonna strike out like 200 times. But can he hit 240/300/500? We'll see.

BA's scouting report suggests fastballs aren't an issue and won't be once he acclimates. It's the spin and the offspeed stuff that is the bigger concern.

2 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

Also worth noting that while the Sox are putting out 40m total for this signing,  I bet a sizable chunk of this comes back to them in the form of Japanese ad sales.  Wouldn't be surprised at all see Japanese ads in the park for opening day, plus some specialty media deals.

That's pretty much a given.

Will probably get tired of them.  Which is a good thing, compared to the last three seasons.

See Ohtani generating an extra $100-150 million per year in revenue for LAD.

One would guess Close has a very strong sense how much Suzuki and Imanaga earn in additional opportunities on the Northside from Japanese companies.

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by caulfield12

5 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

BA's scouting report suggests fastballs aren't an issue and won't be once he acclimates. It's the spin and the offspeed stuff that is the bigger concern.

Any mention of platoon splits?

4 minutes ago, Lukakke Appling said:

Any mention of platoon splits?

Helpful against Skubal and Ragans...to name a few.

5 minutes ago, Lukakke Appling said:

Any mention of platoon splits?

Quote

The market for Murakami was far softer than expected at the time of Yakult posting. Teams were likely scared off by Murakami’s risky low-end hit tool.

The White Sox took advantage. Murakami will not face any immediate pressure to lead a playoff club. Chicago has few middle of the lineup sluggers, which will give him some time to settle into the MLB game. The White Sox hitting development group now has a project on their hands. If they can coax more contact out of Murakami, there’s a significant payoff. Murakami possesses true 80-grade raw power with the ability to consistently do damage when he makes contact. 

Nicknamed Murakami-Sama as a play on the Japanese word for god (Kami-sama), Murakami is one of the most famous players in Japan. A prodigious power hitter, Murakami was a first-round pick signed by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows for 80 million yen in 2017. In 2019, Murakami started on opening day at 19 years old, becoming the Swallows’ youngest opening day starter. He won the Central League MVP award in 2021. In 2022, Murakami set the NPB home run record for a Japanese-born player. On the final day of the season, Murakami topped Sadaharu Oh’s single season mark of 55. In the three seasons since Murakami set the home run record, he has struggled to replicate his 2022 production.

Murakami is a true slugger. His overall profile is driven by his top-of-the-scale raw power, which he’s shown an ability to get to in games. Murakami’s overall hitting identity falls into the three-true-outcomes bucket, with significant swing-and-miss paired with premium on-base skills.

The slugger shows below-average contact rates against nearly every pitch type, but does a majority of his damage against fastballs. His sample size against premium velocity is limited but with plus bat speed, he should be able to catch up to top-end MLB velocity once acclimated. He struggles with offspeed and spin, running 40%+ whiff rates against splitters, changeups, curveballs and sliders during his final season in NPB.

Splitters particularly give Murakami fits, as he’s done very little damage against them. Despite some of the worst contact rates in NPB, Murakami has been one of its most noteworthy sluggers. He pairs plus-plus exit velocity data with premium launch angles, hitting majestic home runs and flyballs to all parts of the park. Murakami shows enough contact to get to his power. Murakami is a selective hitter with solid strike-zone awareness. His selectiveness mitigates some of the risk of his natural swing-and-miss.

Murakami has to hit because he provides negligible defensive value. He was a below-average defender at third and first base in Japan, and he’s expected to play first base for the White Sox. He doesn’t run well enough to be an outfield option.

It will likely take some time for Murakami to adjust to MLB pitching, but when he does he has the ability to provide middle-of-the-order power with on-base skills.  

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/scouting-report-munetaka-murakami/

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by DirtySox

6 minutes ago, Lukakke Appling said:

Any mention of platoon splits?

He had a reverse split which is encouraging. Hit LHP slightly better.

https://baseball.yahoo.co.jp/npb/player/1700084/top

 

"Splitters particularly give Murakami fits, as he’s done very little damage against them. Despite some of the worst contact rates in NPB..."

 

Very few splitters/forkballs in MLB.  Roki Sasaki with one of the most hyoed/famous ones.

Creates significant health concerns for pitchers.

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by caulfield12

Holy Moses! We have reasons to watch this team and be interested in the future. Wow.

On 12/20/2025 at 11:13 AM, Snopek said:

Side note: The Sox Sunday home uniforms should be the pope outfit. Just go all in.

Use the Popemobile for pitching changes.

19 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

He had a reverse split which is encouraging. Hit LHP slightly better.

https://baseball.yahoo.co.jp/npb/player/1700084/top

 

I'd rather have him kill RHP.

This is a nice surprise. Hope he translates. 

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by baseball_gal_aly

3 minutes ago, SoCalChiSox said:

I'd rather have him kill RHP.

846 ops there is far from bad.

We shall see.

Another reason to watch the WBC. At least the Japan games.

For comparison in how they performed in Japan:

Shohei’s K rates in his age 20-22 seasons in Japan were 36%, 26%, and 27%. His career K rate in MLB is 25.5% with a low season of 22.2% and a high season of 29.6%. His BB% over the same ages were 7%, 14%, and 10%. His career BB% rate in MLB is 12.5% with a low season of 7.8% and a high season of 15.2%. 

Munetaka Murakami’s K rates in his age 20-22 seasons in Japan were 22%, 21%, and 21%. The last 3 seasons it was 28%, 29%, and 29%. His BB% over the same ages as Ohtani were 17%, 17%, and 19%.

Between Colson, Murakami and Braden there should be some serious savagery in this lineup. 

Meidroth/Antonacci platoon at leadoff, Teel 2nd to get guys on base and then a wave of savages after that.

Frank Thomas part 2? Methinks so

he looks like a “moose.” can we call him moose?

13 minutes ago, SoCalChiSox said:

Between Colson, Murakami and Braden there should be some serious savagery in this lineup. 

Meidroth/Antonacci platoon at leadoff, Teel 2nd to get guys on base and then a wave of savages after that.

Antonacci still arguably needs more time in the minors.

Unless he just blows Meidroth away in ST and looks better than expected defensively, but Chase was lousy for most of his time in AZ as well last year.

Also don't see them carrying three catchers.

Sosa and Mead are clearly most at risk...but maybe Lenyn DHs unless they pull Benintendi out of LF.

3 minutes ago, Goober said:

Frank Thomas part 2? Methinks so

If he's one of the Top Ten hitters in mlb history his first 7-8 big league seasons, it will be quite the story.

Completely different offensive approaches and contact skills.

https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/munetaka-murakami-white-sox-contract

11 am Monday morning press conference scheduled

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/chicago-white-sox/news/munetaka-murakami-white-sox-japanese-hr-champion-chicago/ed6394ee928cf5edd7318225

Red Sox fans must be mystified why they finished in second for Murakami.

Edited December 21, 2025Dec 21 by caulfield12

Kind of sounds like a bust with little interest from legit teams out there. At least they are trying. Maybe him and Lou will become close buds. 

https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/murakami-signs-with-chisox.47581/#post-7011135

Red Sox fans' takes on missing out on Murakami.

Seem to feel too much risk for a contender to just give him a job.

Outfield picture way too crowded. Someone has to go.

T.Casas continues to be a polarizing  figure on and off the field.

3 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/murakami-signs-with-chisox.47581/#post-7011135

Red Sox fans' takes on missing out on Murakami.

Seem to feel too much risk for a contender to just give him a job.

Outfield picture way too crowded. Someone has to go.

T.Casas continues to be a polarizing  figure on and off the field.

That’s a bit ridiculous.  He is about $40 million after the posting fee.  That isn’t much money/risk to a team like the Red Sox.