Munetaka Murakami recently hit a high fly ball at an exit velocity of 107.6 mph during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins. However, center fielder Walker Jenkins caught the ball in front of the warning track, resulting in an out. This has been a pattern for Murakami, as he had a .085 average, going 5-for-59, in his last 16 games before Saturday.
White Sox manager Will Venable mentioned before the Saturday game against the Twins that Murakami has been hitting the ball extremely hard and extremely high. Venable is optimistic that Murakami is close to improving his swing to hit more home runs. Despite the recent struggles, Venable values Murakami’s efforts, noting his positive impact through good swing decisions and hard work.
Murakami broke his home run drought with a two-run shot to left field in the first inning on Saturday. This marked his 30th home run of the season. He became the third Sox player to hit this milestone recently, following Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery. Montgomery added his 31st home run later in the same game. Murakami had not hit a home run since August 18 prior to this.
Over the past 16 games, Murakami recorded one double and one RBI. He managed to draw 12 walks but also faced 27 strikeouts. Murakami admitted to overthinking during at-bats. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, even when making outs, and focusing on differentiating successful at-bats from unsuccessful ones.
Emphasizing routine and preparation, Murakami seeks improvement in his approach. Staying consistent with his routines, he hopes to change his trajectory and contribute more effectively in the coming games.
“Very important to continue that,” Murakami stated. “And once that comes along, it’s going to be a different road again. That’s where I’m trying to go.”
White Sox general manager Chris Getz expressed confidence in Murakami and the team’s supportive clubhouse atmosphere. Getz acknowledged that players experience different phases during a season, but Murakami remains a significant threat at the plate. The team values Murakami for both his individual contributions and his role in the collective success.
Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Sox in the offseason. Despite missing 35 games due to a hamstring strain, he made an immediate impact, earning an All-Star nod. Getz highlighted Murakami’s influence and contributions, both on and off the field.
Murakami has been crucial to the team’s turnaround, with a current season performance of .213/.353/.486, 30 home runs, and 61 RBIs after the first-inning homer on Saturday. His 81 walks and 158 strikeouts further demonstrate his plate discipline. Despite a challenging August, batting .147 over 28 games, Murakami remains focused on improving his performance in September.
He appreciates the team’s position and aims to approach each game with focus, taking it one day at a time. “I think if you keep continuing that, we end up in a good spot at the end of September,” Murakami expressed.
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