John Schriffen is apparently on some thin ice with the highers-up in Chicago.
The Chicago White Sox television play-by-play announcer Schriffen has gotten himself into trouble with the nickname that he recently bestowed upon first-year White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami, Jeff Agrest of the Chicago Sun-Times reported this week. During a recent game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla., Schriffen referred to Murakami as the “South Side Samurai” after an RBI single in the third inning.
Munetaka Murakami has recorded a hit in each of his first five career games! pic.twitter.com/5aGmiunXlF
— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2026
Agrest reports that Schriffen “sent shockwaves” through the White Sox’ offices with the “potentially racist” nickname. Sox officials reportedly were not excited about the possibility of offending viewers (with Agrest noting that fans should not expect to hear the nickname on the air again).
The 26-year-old infielder Murakami, a two-time home runs leader in his native Japan, signed with the White Sox over the offseason. Murakami is off to a strong start in Chicago thus far, producing three home runs, four RBIs, and five walks through his first seven games.
As for Schriffen, he is now in his third season as the play-by-play voice of the White Sox. Schriffen already went viral a couple of years ago over his heated call of an incident with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Agrest notes that Schriffen is in the final guaranteed year of his contract in Chicago. It remains to be seen if the Murakami nickname incident will factor into the team’s decision on whether or not to bring Schriffen back beyond the 2026 season.