Munetaka Murakami’s promising spring debut with the White Sox is on pause as he joins Team Japan for the WBC, a tournament that could be crucial to his transition to MLB.
The first stint of Munetaka Murakami playing with the Chicago White Sox in spring training has come to an end.
The Japanese superstar arrived at Camelback Ranch in Glendale on February 8 and spent almost three weeks with his new club, training at the team’s spring training complex and getting in-game opportunities during Cactus League play.
The 26-year-old slugger signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox this offseason. The former NPB MVP brings his record-setting power to Chicago — the same power that helped him set a single-season record with 56 home runs back in 2022, and the same power that has made him a superstar for Team Japan.
The White Sox are optimistic that Murakami’s power will translate well to Major League Baseball and make him an immediate star in the United States. But there are questions about his ability to make contact consistently, handle velocity, and transition his skill set to professional baseball in America.
The reality is that Murakami has never specifically trained like he’ll be able to now that he’s with the White Sox. He has never trained for this level of velocity, and he’s never had the resources available to do in-depth preparation for every pitcher he’ll match up against.
Major League Baseball teams — the White Sox included — use something called a Trajekt machine. It allows hitters to get game-like simulated at-bats against the real stuff pitchers will be throwing in upcoming games. There’s no better way to scout an opponent, and there’s no better way to train your swing than with a hyper-realistic pitching machine that makes practice feel like a game.
Hence why every day Murakami has spent at Camelback Ranch has been important. Every game he’s been able to play for the White Sox in spring training thus far has also been essential. And throughout the first week of spring training, he led the White Sox in at-bats and hits, going 5-for-13 at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs, and an .923 OPS.
A very respectable first stint.
That has now come to an end.
As of Friday, Murakami has left White Sox camp and begun traveling to Japan to join Team Japan for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He was scratched from the lineup on Thursday due to general fatigue as he prepared for his travels.
Murakami will get game reps with Team Japan — game reps that carry real weight, no less. He is not expected back in White Sox camp until after the conclusion of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which will run from March 5 through March 17. Japan is one of the favorites in the tournament, so it’s pretty safe to assume they will be playing close to that March 17 end date.
Practically speaking, Murakami will likely rejoin the White Sox in the final week or so of March, just before Opening Day, with maybe only a chance to get into one or two games before the regular season begins and the White Sox head to Milwaukee.
So if you’re a White Sox fan wanting to check out Murakami, your best option now is watching Team Japan play in the World Baseball Classic. Sox fans everywhere should be rooting for Murakami’s success in the tournament. The organization will have very little time with him after it’s over before the regular season begins. And Murakami getting more competitive experience is a necessity at this point.
Team Japan’s first game of the World Baseball Classic will be on March 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. CST. Japan will host Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Dome.