White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami doing something only two MLB players have done better

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White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami doing something only two MLB players have done better originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago White Sox knew Munetaka Murakami arrived with superstar potential. Few expected him to make this kind of history so quickly.

Murakami continued his massive start to his MLB career Saturday night against the Chicago Cubs, launching two more home runs in the latest chapter of what is quickly becoming one of baseball's biggest stories. The Japanese slugger crushed a 391-foot homer in the third inning before adding a towering 428-foot blast later in the game as the White Sox erupted offensively at Rate Field.

With the two-homer performance, Murakami reached 17 home runs through his first 45 MLB games. According to MLB statistician Sarah Langs, only two players in MLB history have ever hit more home runs through their first 45 career games.

Munetaka Murakami joins elite MLB company​

The list is filled with some of baseball's most dangerous power hitters:

• 
  Gary Sanchez (2015-16): 19
  
  
• 
  Rhys Hoskins (2017): 18
  
  
• 
  Munetaka Murakami (2026): 17
  
  
• 
  Yordan Alvarez (2019): 17
  
  
• 
  Cody Bellinger (2017): 17
  
  
• 
  Wally Berger (1930): 17
  

Most home runs in first 45 career MLB games:

2015-16 Gary Sanchez: 19
2017 Rhys Hoskins: 18
2026 Munetaka Murakami: 17
2019 Yordan Alvarez: 17
2017 Cody Bellinger: 17
1930 Wally Berger: 17
2014 Jose Abreu: 16
1986 Wally Joyner: 16 https://t.co/9i9uvHJnAs

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 17, 2026

That is remarkable territory for any rookie hitter, let alone one making the difficult transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball. Murakami arrived in Chicago carrying enormous expectations after becoming one of Japan's biggest baseball stars with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. His resume overseas already included multiple MVP awards, a Triple Crown season and a reputation as one of the most feared left-handed sluggers in the world.

Now, he is proving that power translates everywhere.

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Murakami's power surge changing White Sox outlook​

Even more impressive is how quickly Murakami has adjusted after some early swing-and-miss concerns followed him from Japan. The 26-year-old has already established himself as the centerpiece of Chicago's offense while giving White Sox fans legitimate hope for the future. His raw power has consistently changed games in a matter of swings, and Saturday's performance against the Cubs was another reminder of just how dangerous he can be.

Murakami entered MLB with the nickname "Murakami-sama" in Japan because of his almost mythical power displays. Through his first month and a half in the majors, the nickname suddenly feels very fitting on the South Side. The White Sox have hovered around the .500 mark for much of the season, but performances like this continue reinforcing the belief that the franchise may have landed one of baseball's next true international superstars.

And based on MLB history, almost nobody has ever started their career mashing quite like this.

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