How Munetaka Murakami is actually better than expected for White Sox
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The Chicago White Sox made a mildly surprising addition this past offseason when they went out and signed Japanese superstar slugger Munetaka Murakami to a $34 million contract.
It was a deal less than what many expected Murakami could get, and it is also paying off dividends already this season. Through just the first 21 games of the year, Murakami is hitting at an incredible rate.
His early-season success has MLB.com's Scott Merkin believing Murakami is better than expected. The reason is clear: he's looking like more than just the three-true-outcome hitter many projected he'd be in the Majors.
Munetaka Murakami is better than expected
"White Sox: Munetaka Murakami is as expected. Actually, he's better," Merkin writes. "...He has started more as a three-true-outcomes sort of player: home runs, walks, and strikeouts. But there's so much more there for the focused, hard-working talent, as evidenced by his 431-foot grand slam against the Athletics on Friday."
It's early in his big league career, just 21 games, but the slugger looks to be a whole lot more impactful than someone who will walk, strikeout, and hit homers.
Three-true-outcome hitters are valuable in the Major Leagues, as someone like Kyle Schwarber just signed a $150 million five-year deal this offseason with the Philadelphia Phillies.
While Murakami hasn't proved he's of the same caliber as Schwarber, he has him beat so far this season with his hot start.
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Through the first 21 games and 67 at-bats of the year, Murakami is hitting .209 with a .908 OPS thanks to 20 walks, 29 strikeouts, and seven homers.
Half of his 14 hits are out of the ballpark, with Murakami not hitting a double or triple yet this season. When he steps up to the plate, it's either a homer, a single, or a strikeout most of the time. Only 24 of his 87 plate appearances have resulted in a ball in play for an out.
Murakami is a very fun hitter, and looks like a steal for the White Sox at the $34 million two-year price they got him at. He's already proving to be a good hitter, but Merkin believes there's more to come with Murakami.
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