Japanese baseball star Murakami Munetaka has signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox. US media outlets say they agreed to a two-year, 34-million-dollar deal.
Murakami had been negotiating with Major League Baseball clubs this offseason after being posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
The White Sox announced the deal on Sunday, a day before Murakami’s posting deadline.
The 25-year-old slugger joined the Yakult Swallows out of high school as a first-round draft pick. He became a regular in the starting lineup in his second professional season.
He hit 56 homers in his fifth year in 2022, breaking the single-season record set by Japanese home-run legend Oh Sadaharu in 1964.
Murakami also won the batting and RBI titles that year, becoming the youngest triple crown winner in Japanese professional baseball history at age 22.
He suffered an injury early this season and experienced his first extended absence. After returning in July, he hit 22 home runs in 56 games, drawing attention in the United States as a power hitter.
The White Sox finished this season with 60 wins and 102 losses, placing last in the American League Central division. Adding a power hitter to the team’s lineup had been a key priority.
Murakami said on social media that he is very excited to start a new chapter by playing baseball for the White Sox. He described competing in the Major Leagues as a dream come true.