The Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami has been a revelation since he signed his two-year ($34 million) contract in the offseason. In his first 23 games, the 26-year-old is hitting .234 with a .978 OPS, nine home runs, 21 walks, and 31 strikeouts. 

Munetaka’s power was never in question (246 home runs in the NPB) and has been fun to watch, as all of his extra-base hits (nine) have been home runs. He has zero doubles and zero triples.

According to OptaSTATS, this is the second-longest streak by an MLB player to begin his career. The Seattle Mariners Dae-ho Lee leads with 10.

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Chicago White Sox Munetaka Murakami surpasses his countryman Shohei Ohtani for home runs

According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, Murakami’s nine home runs are the most by any Japanese-born player in their first 23 games. This passes his countryman, the Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who had six. 

Munetaka Murakami’s nine home runs are the most of any Japanese-born player in his first 23 MLB games

He has three more than any other Japanese-born player in first 23 MLB games, ahead of Shohei Ohtani, who had six in his first 23 games as a hitter https://t.co/H3TimCL4Ek

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 22, 2026

Murakami’s home run on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks marked his fourth straight game hitting a long ball. This is the second time this season — Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers with three straight — Murakami has had three-plus games with a home run. If he can continue to showcase his power — second in Major League Baseball in home runs — he could wind up being an All-Star this summer. 

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