The arrival of Japanese star Munetaka Murakami to the Chicago White Sox has come with some bathroom improvement at the team’s clubhouse. But as spring training starts, manager Will Venable made sure to flush a misconception about Murakami’s bidet request down the toilet.
During a recent appearance on the “Foul Territory” podcast, Venable was asked by host and former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski if the Bidet was part of Chicago’s recruitment pitch to Murakami.
Venables then sets the record straight, but not before praising the hygienic prowess of the bathroom fixture that’s very common in Murakami’s home country.
“You know, I lived in Japan for a couple of years. My dad played over there. So the bidet and the power of the bidet I get,” said Venable, who is entering his second season as the White Sox’s manager.
“But yeah, I think the bidet conversation happened after we signed him. So it wasn’t part of the conversations in free agency.”
Murakami was signed by the White Sox to a two-year, $34 million deal, and they are looking forward to his bat making an immediate impact on the team’s offense, which struggled mightily in 2025. Last season, the White Sox finished just 27th in the big leagues in both batting average (.232) and weighted on-base average (.296).