{"id":576903,"date":"2026-02-17T05:24:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T05:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/576903\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T05:24:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T05:24:24","slug":"chicago-white-sox-slugger-already-turning-heads-in-spring-training-white-sox-chicitysports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/576903\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago White Sox slugger already turning heads in spring training WHITE SOX ChiCitySports"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The biggest storyline going into this year\u2019s spring training for the Chicago White Sox is the arrival of Japanese slugger <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicitysports.com\/chicago-white-soxs-munetaka-murakami-gets-caleb-williams-surprise\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Munetaka Murkami<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>More news:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicitysports.com\/this-chicago-white-sox-player-is-projected-to-hit-30-hr-in-2026\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This Chicago White Sox player is projected to hit 30 HR in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p>It seem\u2019s that the power hitter is already turning many heads within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicitysports.com\/this-chicago-white-sox-newcomer-is-one-of-the-top-hitters-to-watch-in-spring-training\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">White Sox<\/a>\u2019s coaching staff.<\/p>\n<p>According to Sox beat writer <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/scottmerkin\/status\/2023514882411520372?s=46\" rel=\"nofollow\">Scott Merkin<\/a>, the team\u2019s director of hitting gave an update on Murkami that will make many fans very excited.<\/p>\n<p>The White Sox slugger is already impressing many<br \/>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-154494\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202560%201753'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Munetaka Murakami Chicago White Sox\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1753\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_20287161-scaled.jpg\"\/>Mar 21, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Japan third baseman Munetaka Murakami (55) hits a home run against the USA in the second inning at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n<p>More news:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicitysports.com\/this-chicago-white-sox-newcomer-is-one-of-the-top-hitters-to-watch-in-spring-training\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This Chicago White Sox newcomer is one of the top hitters to watch in spring training<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ryan Fuller told the media that Murakami is \u201cspecial\u201d and that there\u2019s immediately been a level of confidence he has brought since reporting for spring training.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller on Munetaka Murakami: &#8220;Mune is special, and I think you see immediately there\u2019s a level of confidence here amidst everything being new here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/scottmerkin\/status\/2023514882411520372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The signing of Murakami has brought a massive level of excitement to the Sox\u2019s 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n<p>With the Japanese power hitter being apart of an improved roster, Chicago might have a much more exciting season than everyone expected.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It\u2019s only batting practice, but here are five swings from Munetaka Murakami.  <br \/>First swing: HR to center <br \/>Fourth swing: HR to left. <br \/>Fifth swing: HR to right. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4UtK1dMbRW\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/4UtK1dMbRW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChuckGarfien\/status\/2022004502916919499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">February 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">First look: Munetaka Murakami at Camelback Ranch \ud83d\udc40 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nuzl8PUM7h\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/nuzl8PUM7h<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/whitesox\/status\/2020575756829511837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-159120\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202560%201707'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_28201479-scaled.jpg\"\/>Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) takes batting practice during spring training camp. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p>                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202560%201707'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"This Chicago White Sox newcomer is one of the top hitters to watch in spring training\" class=\"post-image\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_28201479-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                        This Chicago White Sox newcomer is one of the top hitters to watch in spring training<br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicitysports.com\/this-chicago-white-sox-newcomer-is-one-of-the-top-hitters-to-watch-in-spring-training\/\" class=\"read-more\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\tFor More Great Chicago Sports Content<\/p>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLGY9QowgMXbAg?hl=en-US&amp;gl=US&amp;ceid=US%3Aen\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"349\" height=\"108\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20349%20108'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770898591_673_image-10.png\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLGY9QowgMXbAg?hl=en-US&amp;gl=US&amp;ceid=US%3Aen\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Google News<\/a>, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.<\/p>\n<p>Follow us on Twitter at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/chicitysports23\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@chicitysports23<\/a> for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. 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