{"id":556220,"date":"2026-01-31T12:05:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T12:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/556220\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T12:05:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T12:05:29","slug":"anticipation-grows-for-munetaka-murakami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/556220\/","title":{"rendered":"Anticipation grows for Munetaka Murakami"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starter Davis Martin saw the international impact instantly after the Chicago White Sox added Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we signed him and three days later I had someone from Japan send me my baseball card,\u201d Martin said Friday at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport.<\/p>\n

Murakami has been the most buzzed about move this offseason for the Sox. The signing of the two-time Nippon Professional Baseball Japanese Central League Most Valuable Player \u2014 who is in Japan finishing his visa application process \u2014 was a popular topic of conversation Friday at SoxFest Live, receiving a nice ovation from fans when his name was mentioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew who he was because I watched him in the World Baseball Classic and I saw him tear it up,\u201d shortstop Colson Montgomery said. \u201cThe fact that we have him on our team, I\u2019m happy about that. I\u2019d rather him be on our team than anyone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could just tell the excitement that he had with this group. You could see he\u2019s very excited to be with this core group that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n

That group offensively includes returning players such as Montgomery, second baseman Chase Meidroth, catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero and third baseman Miguel Vargas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you look at the guy \u2014 you look at his highlights in the 2023 WBC, you look at what he can do for a lineup \u2014 as a starting pitcher you\u2019re drooling,\u201d Martin said. \u201cThis guy can change the game in any swing at any time. To stick that in the lineup in between Teel, in between Meidroth, in between Colson, (Lenyn) Sosa, it\u2019s kind of hard not to get fired up to watch it. We\u2019re really excited. I think he\u2019s going to fit right in and it\u2019s going to be a lot of fun getting to know him and talk to him a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murakami was featured in a video-highlight reel during Friday\u2019s event, which included a message largely in Japanese from the first baseman. He wrapped up in English, saying \u201cGo White Sox!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just wants to get to Arizona,\u201d general manager Chris Getz said Thursday. \u201cThis guy, he\u2019s all about baseball. He\u2019s working daily on his body, his craft, his offensive ability, his defensive ability. It\u2019s really about getting to Arizona, getting comfortable with his surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have the utmost confidence that he\u2019s going to be very comfortable with our group. I know that they chose us because of this young, developing group and knew that he was going to fit in seamlessly. And I anticipate that happening.\u201d<\/p>\n