Munetaka Murakami hits first home run at Chicago home stadium, becoming fastest Japanese player to reach four homers.

In today's game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, the White Sox trailed by one run in the bottom of the sixth inning with no outs. Munetaka Murakami stepped into the batter's box facing Brendon Little, with one basic goal: to bring home Miguel Vargas, who had opened the inning with a double. Murakami went beyond that task, launching a 431-foot home run to center field to put his team ahead. The White Sox eventually won 6-3 and never relinquished the lead.

“That was the best outcome of the bat meeting the ball,” Murakami said via translator Kenzo Yagi. “I’m really happy to help the team take the lead.”

“He’s built for these moments,” White Sox manager Will Venable said of Murakami. “His presence in the locker room, his character, his defense, his power, and his ability to pick pitches—it’s all as we imagined. Murakami has been outstanding.”

Although Murakami already had three home runs before this game, this blast with an exit velocity of 111.1 mph held multiple “firsts” for him. According to Elias Sports Bureau statistics, Murakami’s four home runs are the most by a Japanese-born player in the first eight games of a Major League career. He is also the first rookie in White Sox history to hit four homers within eight games.

This was Murakami’s first home run against a left-handed pitcher, and his first game with three RBIs in his brief career. Previously, he homered in each of his first three games in Milwaukee; this was his first home run at his home stadium.

“The fans are extremely passionate and fun. They’re cheering for us. I’m happy to play here,” Murakami said. “Playing at Guaranteed Rate Field and hitting a home run in front of the fans has always been my dream. I just want to keep going through this process.”

Murakami also showed defensive highlights today, despite an error in the fourth inning when he mishandled Daulton Varsho’s grounder, allowing the Blue Jays to load the bases. In the seventh inning with one out and bases loaded, Nathan Lukes hit a fly ball to right field for a sacrifice fly. But Murakami intercepted the return throw from right fielder Tristan Peters and made a precise tag on Tyler Heineman trying to advance from second to third, ending the inning. This left Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had hit a two-run homer in the sixth, waiting on the sidelines.

“I saw the runner at second, and I knew a throw home wouldn’t be timely,” Murakami said. “So I reacted instinctively to try tagging him at third. That’s part of our daily training.”

“Starting with Peters accurately finding the relay man, that was crucial,” Venable said. “That’s what we emphasize. It’s fundamental baseball. That tag was a very critical out.”

Colson Montgomery followed Murakami’s home run with his second homer of the season. This meant that Little, protecting a 2–1 lead, faced four batters and allowed three long hits resulting in three runs. For home fans, it was a power duo worth watching and supporting.

Venable, facing Blue Jays left-handed starter Mason Fluharty, moved Murakami to the cleanup spot and Montgomery to the sixth spot, aiming to place more right-handed hitters early in the lineup. Thus, Murakami and Montgomery delivering damage against a lefty seemed fitting.

“Both Murakami and I have confidence that we can compete against anyone,” Montgomery said. “You have to have the mindset ‘I’m the best, nobody can beat me.’ When our lineup positions are adjusted, we don’t get discouraged or think something’s wrong. We understand it’s part of the game plan. We just need to trust the coaches.”

Returning home appears to have worked wonders for the White Sox. They started the season 1–5 on the road, playing loosely, inconsistent with their diligent spring training. Today they secured their first series win of the season and for the first time since 2022 opened 2–0 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“Every game, everyone is gradually improving,” Montgomery said. “Calm down, realize it’s a marathon—you can’t break out of a slump with one at-bat. You just need to trust the process. I feel we’re doing that now.”