Japanese slugger Murakami excited to join White Sox after surprise deal

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM JAPANESE BASEBALL PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI AND WHITE SOX GENERAL MANAGER CHRIS GETZ (RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST) SHOWS: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 22, 2025)(ABC AFFILIATE WLS – No use USA. No archive use.) 1. JAPANESE BASEBALL PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI SPEAKING AT PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE HIS SIGNING OF 2-YEAR, $34 MILLION DEAL WITH CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2. (SOUNDBITE)(English) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "Hello, my name is Munetaka Murakami. White Sox nation, you guys are, you guys in my heart. White Sox! (holding up White Sox sock).  3. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese followed by English translation) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "From this point on I'd like to do it in Japanese." 4. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese followed by English translation) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "Ever since i started playing baseball to this very day I have been supported by very many people. I believe I am the person and ballplayer I am today due to their love and support. I am deeply grateful to everybody, everyone who has been involved in my journey. Above all I'd like to thank my parents for raising me." 5. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese followed by English translation) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "Putting this uniform on, I feel like I finally reached the start line. I am incredibly honored and excited to be able to play in front of these wonderful fans at Rate Field (White Sox home stadium)." 6. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese followed by English translation) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "I would like to thank everyone in the White Sox organization for believing in myself and thank you to all the White Sox club members for providing me the opportunity." 7. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese followed by English translation) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "My goal is to win, continuously grow, and to continuously challenge myself. No matter who the opponent is, I'm always willing to take the challenge on, and I will never give up. I will contribute to this club to the best of my ability." 8. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese followed by English translation) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "I hope to express on the field how wonderful and great the game of baseball is." 9. (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese followed by English translation) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "To all my fans who supported me in Japan, although we will be far apart, I believe you will always be by my side in taking on this new challenge. Thank you for your continued support. And lastly, of course, all of my fans in Japan you guys will always in my heart as well." 10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) WHITE SOX PLAYER MUNETAKA MURAKAMI, SAYING: "Let's get to work! Yes!" 11. (SOUNDBITE)(English) WHITE SOX GENERAL MANAGER CHRIS GETZ ON MURAKAMI SIGNING, SAYING: "Obviously a significant moment for the Chicago White Sox, you know to welcome one of the most prolific power hitters on the planet, and now knowing that he's going to be on the south side of Chicago, wearing a Chicago White Sox uniform, is so significant, so special, we couldn't be more excited to have Mune on this journey with us." STORY: The Chicago White Sox, not expected to be key players in offseason free agency, signed Japanese star Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contract, the team announced Sunday (December 21). The deadline for Murakami to sign after being posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball was 5 p.m. ET on Monday. Murakami, 25, is an infielder and expected to play first base for Chicago. In the 2025 season, the left-handed power hitter blasted 22 homers in an injury-shortened (oblique) season. In his career, Murakami has 265 home runs, 722 RBIs and an average of .273 in 1,003 career games, He hit a career-high 56 home runs in 2022, the most for a season in Japanese baseball history by a player born in Japan. The previous record was Japanese record holder Sadaharu Oh, who played 22 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants (1959-1980). Oh hit 55 in 1964, his highest total ever. Murakami's free agency didn't develop quite as expected, per ESPN. Worries about defense and his tendencies to strike out seemingly kept teams from entering a bidding war. By signing a two-year deal, he can be a free agent again after the 2027 season, using his time with the White Sox as a chance to show his skills to the rest of MLB. What he most will be looking to show is improved composure at the plate. His career strikeout percentage is 25.2% after 446 strikeouts in 1,068 innings pitched. The White Sox lost 100 games in each of the past three seasons but are a team on the rise. They have the No. 1 pick in the draft in July and are expected to select UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. Trades of pitchers Garrett Crochet and Lucas Giolito yielded a crop of top prospects such as infielders Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth, and catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero. Perhaps Chicago could make an unexpected run in the AL Central and interest Murakami enough to sign a longer-term contract after the 2027 season. Chicago's total outlay to sign Murakami will be $40.575 million, with the Swallows receiving a $6.575 million posting fee from the White Sox. (Production: David Grip)

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