{"id":659163,"date":"2026-04-02T17:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/659163\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T17:00:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:00:25","slug":"chicago-white-sox-only-hope-in-2026-so-far-is-munetaka-murakami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/659163\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago White Sox only hope in 2026 so far is Munetaka Murakami"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago White Sox<\/a> are not off to a good start in the 2026 MLB season. After going 41-120 in 2024 and 60-102 in 2025, fans did not have high expectations for them this year. The hope was that they would at least play decent baseball and show some improvement.<\/p>\n

But they haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Through the first six games of the season, the White Sox are just 1-5. They are tied with the Boston Red Sox<\/a> and Athletics<\/a> for the worst record baseball.<\/p>\n

But what is worse is the fact that Chicago has a -31 run differential right now, by far the worst in all the Majors. The next closest team to them is the Red Sox, who have a -15 run differential.<\/p>\n

Munetaka Murakami gives the Chicago White Sox a much-needed silver lining
\n\"ChicagoMar 31, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) reacts after striking out against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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Indeed, the White Sox have not played very inspiring baseball early on in the season. And while there is still plenty of time, there is microscopic hope that they will right the ship.<\/p>\n

That being said, rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami<\/a> has at least given fans a new star to cheer for. MLB.com<\/a> recently named him Chicago\u2019s biggest takeaway from the first week\u2019s worth of games:<\/p>\n

\u201cBy his own admission, the left-handed-hitting first baseman from Japan has plenty of work to do as he begins his Major League career. In fact, Murakami has focused more on early shortcomings and the process for improvement even when opening weekend accolades were heaped upon him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Murakami became the first player in White Sox franchise history to have a home run in each of his first three big league games, not to mention producing a hit in each of his first five, an RBI in four of those five and showing great patience at the plate with a walk in three of those five. He appears to be a needed bonafide power source.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through six games, Murakami is hitting .238\/.360\/.667 with three home runs and five RBI. As noted above, he hit a home run in each of his first three Major League games. Unfortunately, they were all solo shots and the White Sox lost each of those games.<\/p>\n

An additional frustration is that he has struck out nine times in six games. It appears that the high strikeout totals that gave some Major League teams pause when he was on the market did indeed follow him over from Japan.<\/p>\n

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Chicago White Sox off to MLB-worst start with pitching
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