With Japanese phenom Munetaka Murakami’s posting window set to close on Monday, interest around his availability is expected to intensify across Major League Baseball.

For a San Francisco Giants club still searching for more impact offense, Murakami represents an intriguing — if unconventional — option, particularly after the team missed out on adding a power bat like Kyle Schwarber earlier this offseason.

A direct comparison to Schwarber is admittedly imperfect. Murakami has yet to appear in a major league game, and projecting NPB production to MLB competition always carries risk. Still, the offensive profile is what draws teams in.

If his bat translates, then Murakami could offer a similar middle-of-the-order presence built around elite power and on-base ability. While he has not spent much time as a designated hitter or outfielder, the Giants could explore creative ways to keep his bat in the lineup daily if they believe it is special enough.

Defensively, Murakami has primarily been projected as a first or third baseman — positions that are already occupied in San Francisco.

Matt Chapman remains at third base, while Rafael Devers, acquired from the Red Sox earlier this year, is expected to see significant time between first base and DH. If the Giants were serious about adding Murakami, Devers would likely need to settle into a more permanent role at first base.

Another complicating factor is Bryce Eldridge, the Giants’ top prospect, who is widely viewed as the organization’s long-term answer at first base.

Any pursuit of Murakami would require the front office to weigh short-term offensive upside against long-term positional planning. Even so, evaluating Murakami strictly through the lens of his bat makes it difficult to dismiss the idea entirely. Few hitters coming out of Japan possess his combination of age, power, and on-base ability.

Unlike Shota Imanaga, whose smaller stature gave some teams pause during his transition to MLB, Murakami offers an imposing physical frame at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds.

He gained widespread recognition in the United States for his clutch second-inning home run off Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly during the 2023 World Baseball Classic final, a moment that helped propel Japan to a 3–2 victory over Team USA.

Still, Murakami is not without concerns. Despite his prodigious power — highlighted by a 56-homer season in 2022 — his tendency to swing and miss has drawn scrutiny.

He struck out 180 times in 143 games during the 2024 NPB season, raising questions about how his approach will hold up against elite MLB pitching. What kind of big leaguer he ultimately becomes remains uncertain, but at just 25 years old with nearly 250 professional home runs, the upside is undeniable.

Murakami is undoubtedly a risk, but he is the kind of high-reward bet that organizations dream on. If everything clicks, then he has the potential to be the next great power hitter to emerge from Japan — and be a franchise-altering bat for whichever team is willing to take the chance.

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