After facing Munetaka Murakami multiple times in Japan, White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay offers rare firsthand insight into the power, adjustments, and impact Chicago could see from its most anticipated rookie in years.
There is no player on the Chicago White Sox roster who generates more excitement — or more questions — than Munetaka Murakami.
Murakami carries more buzz into his MLB debut than any Sox player in years. That stems from his status as an international superstar in Japan, his light-tower power that excites any baseball fan, and the simple mystery surrounding his transition to the majors.
Nobody quite knows what to expect. Front offices appeared split on their evaluations of him this winter, and scouts remain unsure whether his stateside impact will mirror someone like Joey Gallo or Kyle Schwarber.
His batting average could dip below the Mendoza Line. Or, if concerns about his contact ability prove overblown, he could flirt with 50 home runs.
Both outcomes feel equally plausible.
White Sox fans everywhere are asking the same question: What exactly should be expected from Munetaka Murakami as a rookie in 2026?
Ironically, one of the most qualified people to answer that question may already be in the White Sox clubhouse — someone who has seen Murakami from a unique vantage point as an opposing pitcher.
The White Sox agreed to a two-year contract with left-hander Anthony Kay this winter, bringing him back to the United States after a promising two-year stint with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball. While pitching in Yokohama, Kay faced many of Japan’s best hitters — including several matchups against Murakami.
In seven official NPB games in which the two squared off, Murakami logged 15 at-bats and slashed .400/.526/.467. Credit to Kay for not surrendering a home run to Japan’s all-time single-season home run leader, but the overall body of work speaks for itself.
With that much firsthand experience, there may be no one in White Sox Nation better equipped to discuss Murakami’s skill set than Kay. He recently did just that in an interview with Chuck Garfien on the White Sox Podcast.
“He’s got probably the most power I've ever seen. It's ridiculous,” Kay said. “We were in like a dead-ball era over there. Not a lot of home runs, but he’s still putting balls 10–20 rows deep. It was impressive.”
Kay referenced Murakami’s 22 home runs in 56 Central League games last season — a testament to both the consistency and magnitude of his power despite less hitter-friendly conditions.
“Every time I face him, I just try to avoid him as much as possible. Try and have nobody on base so I can pitch a little bit more to him. But whenever he came up, we were pitching around him and getting to the next guy for sure,” Kay continued.
Kay said his game plan was to keep the ball away from Murakami. It didn’t always matter. Murakami consistently adjusted, driving pitches on the outer half to the opposite field for hits.
One of the most powerful hitters in the world — with the ability to go the other way against quality pitching — is a nightmare combination for pitchers.
And it’s quotes like those that push me toward the optimistic end of the projection spectrum for Murakami in 2026.
He’s going to strike out. He’s going to endure cold stretches.
So did Colson Montgomery during his incredible 2025 second half. Time and again, players with this profile prove that the stretches where they are among the most dangerous hitters on the planet far outweigh the inevitable slumps.
If Anthony Kay’s experience is any indication, Murakami may be a far more well-rounded hitter than much of the baseball world expects.
From there, he can let the power do the rest.