Munetaka Murakami recommended a bidet be added to the White Sox clubhouse, and the team made it happen.
The jump from Nippon Professional Baseball to the major leagues is a significant transition. Players making the move have to adjust to life both on and off the field. Munetaka Murakami is already making himself comfortable in the Chicago White Sox clubhouse, thanks to an addition in the bathroom.
The White Sox have added a bidet in the clubhouse at the recommendation of Murakami, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com. “One thing that stood out, one thing he did notice is I think we didn’t have a bidet in our locker room,” general manager Chris Getz told Merkin. “That’s something that’s new to him, and we are putting one in. So, it was like, ‘Ok, that’s new. We can do that.’”
Murakami brought up the lack of a bidet when he was checking out the facilities during his initial trip to Chicago. The White Sox inked the Japanese star to a two-year, $34 million deal in December.
Chicago White Sox Slugger Will Have New Tools Available
Murakami’s new home will now have a familiar comfort, but it’s something that was already there that could provide a bigger boost. The NPB import’s first trip through the White Sox clubhouse also included a look at the Trajekt machine, relays Merkin. Trajekt technology replicates a pitcher’s windup and allows hitters to take batting practice with the feel of facing a specific real-life opponent.
The main question mark for Murakami as he heads to a new league is contact. The 26-year-old wrapped up his time in Japan with three straight seasons posting a strikeout rate above 28%. He’ll now encounter better pitching in MLB, which could push that number into the low 30s. Murakami also notched a swinging-strike rate above 12% in all but one season of his NPB career. His 17.3% mark in 2025 would’ve led all qualified MLB hitters last season.
The availability of Trajekt could conceivably help Murakami negate some of the swing-and-miss in his game. The technology can be especially valuable for players switching teams, since they’re largely encountering a new batch of pitchers. Murakami, of course, is switching leagues, so every MLB pitcher will be new to him.
Murakami Brings Big Power to White Sox Lineup
When Murakami does make contact, he does damage. He set an NPB record with 56 home runs as a 22-year-old in 2022. He won the Triple Crown that year, earning unanimous MVP honors. It was his second consecutive year taking home the award. Murakami piled up 246 long balls across his eight seasons in Japan. He earned an 80 grade for raw power from FanGraphs.
The White Sox have finished 27th or worse in scoring in each of the last three seasons. The club hasn’t had a player top 22 home runs in the past two years. Luis Robert, one of Chicago’s few power threats, was dealt to the New York Mets.
Murakami will be part of a young core that includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The organization is looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Chicago has lost 100+ games in three straight seasons.
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