Munetaka Murakami, a 25-year-old slugger who rose through the Tokyo Yakult Swallows system and became one of Japan’s most talked-about hitters, has officially been posted to Major League Baseball.
The Swallows’ posting began on Nov. 7, opening the standard 45-day window for MLB clubs to negotiate with the player.
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Murakami’s arrival on the open market has created immediate buzz because of his age, track record and prodigious power. A left-handed hitter, he broke the single-season Japanese home run mark with 56 in 2022 and has piled up well over 200 homers in eight full seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan’s highest league.
Even in a 2025 campaign limited by an oblique injury, he returned to hit 22 long balls in 224 plate appearances and posted an eye-catching .273/.379/.663 line for the season.
Japan third baseman Munetaka Murakami watches after hitting a home run during the second inning against USA at LoanDepot Park.
There are, however, clear risk factors that temper the excitement. Murakami’s swing-and-miss rate has risen in recent seasons, with strikeout rates (28.8%) north of where they were during his MVP campaigns (21%). Major league scouts differ on whether he projects as an everyday third baseman or first baseman/designated hitter.
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If he becomes primarily a DH/first-base bat, that raises the stakes on his offensive profile. His age and demonstrated ability to hit for power make a nine-figure contract plausible.
Despite the wide interest, several industry observers say the Los Angeles Dodgers are unlikely to be major players in the Murakami sweepstakes.
“Any time a notable free agent is discussed, the free-spending Dodgers will be in the conversation. That’s especially true when the player in question is coming over from Japan, as Los Angeles already boasts Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. The fit, however, is less than ideal,” Charlie Wright of MLB Trade Rumors wrote on Monday.
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“The Dodgers have Ohtani plugged into the DH spot on a daily basis. Freddie Freeman will hold down first base through 2027. The Dodgers picked up Max Muncy’s club option and will have him at third base again next year, barring a trade,” he continued.
“Murakami did make a start in the outfield this past season, so maybe that would be an avenue for the Dodgers to make it work, but it’d be surprising to see him signed and plugged into the outfield on a full-time basis.”
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The Dodgers went after the biggest Japanese free agents in the past two offseasons. In December 2023, they signed Shohei Ohtani to a record 10-year, $700 million contract and starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto via the posting system in a $12-year, $325 million deal. This past January, they added pitcher Roki Sasaki on a minor league contract with a $6.5 million signing bonus.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.