Three years after shattering one of Japan’s most esteemed home run records, Munetaka Murakami is set to make waves across the Pacific, surprising the baseball community with his latest career move.

While many anticipated the power-hitting corner infielder to ink a deal with an MLB team this winter, few expected him to turn down mega-rich franchises like the Los Angeles Angels, where Shohei Ohtani found fame. Instead, Murakami has opted for a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, a team in the midst of a rebuild.

Fans of playoff contenders, such as the Boston Red Sox, were left in shock. “WHITE SOX?” exclaimed one bewildered supporter in disbelief over the news.

This unexpected signing follows the White Sox’s recent success in MLB’s Draft Lottery, where they secured the top pick for 2026. This draft promises a wealth of talent, particularly among shortstops, making their future outlook even more promising.

“The #1 pick and Murakami in just two weeks,” a hopeful White Sox fan celebrated on X, reflecting on the team’s sudden fortune. “Who’s got it better than us?”

In the South Side of Chicago, some enthusiasts credited their luck to Pope Leo XIV, a local native and fervent White Sox enthusiast, jesting, “Chicago Pope performing miracles for the Sox.”

The slugging corner infielder was expected to sign with an MLB team this winter

Murakami, who turns 26 on February 2, joins a promising group of young hitters that already includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central this year with a 60-102 record, a 19-game improvement from the previous season.

He gets a $1 million signing bonus payable within 30 days and salaries of $16 million next year and $17 million in 2027.

His 2027 salary can escalate based on awards earned in 2026: $1 million for winning an MVP award, $500,000 for finishing second or third in the voting, $250,000 for fourth through 10th and $250,000 for Rookie of the Year.

He can’t be assigned to the minor leagues without his consent and will be a free agent at the end of the contract. He also gets a team-provided interpreter and flight reimbursement between Japan and the U.S.

Chicago owes a posting fee of $6,575,000 to Yakult, Murakami’s Central League team. The Swallows also would receive a supplemental fee of 15 percent of any triggered escalators.

‘Been watching him on the Swallows for years, great signing,’ one Japanese baseball fan wrote online. ‘Shocked that the White Sox came through.’ 

Murakami would become the fourth Japanese-born player to play for the White Sox, joining Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Takatsu managed Murakami in Japan.

The left-handed hitting All-Star is slated to be formally introduced at a press conference on Monday.

Murakami hit 56 homers in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player in the Nippon league while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown

Murakami was Central League MVP in 2021 and ’22. He was limited to 56 games this season because of an oblique injury. He struck out 64 times, but he batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.

Murakami hit 56 homers in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown. He topped 30 homers in four straight years before an injury-interrupted season in 2023.

He has a .270 career average with 246 homers, 647 RBIs and 977 strikeouts in 892 games over eight Central League seasons, all with the Swallows.

It’s the strikeouts that have raised some concern. His strikeout rate is near 30 percent, which is exceptionally high for Japan. Meanwhile his walk percentage dropped from a career-best of 19.3 in 2022 to 17.2 in 2024 and just 14.3 last season.

Pope Leo throws on a White Sox hat over his zucchetto while blessing a couple in June

Long-suffering White Sox fans are suddenly optimistic with one of their own in the Vatican 

Adding to the anxiety about Murakami is his struggles with hard fastballs, against which he hit just 0.95 last season. Major League fastballs average around 95mph these days, compared to around 90-92 in Japan, according to online reports.

After playing primarily at first base in 2019 and 2020, he has spent most of his time since at third.

At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Murakami hit a game-ending double off Giovanny Gallegos that drove in Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a 6-5 semifinal win over Mexico. The following day in the championship game, Murakami hit a tying home run off Merrill Kelly in the second inning and Japan went on to beat the United States 3-2.

Under the agreement between MLB and NPB, the posting fee is 20 percent of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5 percent of the next $25 million and 15 percent of any amount over $50 million.