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[Breaking News]Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

CHICAGO, United States, Dec. 23 Kyodo - New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami attends a press conference after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (Kyodo)

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami gives a thumbs-up on the field following a press conference where he was introduced after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami puts on his new team cap and jersey during a press conference where he was introduced after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami gives a thumbs-up on the field following a press conference where he was introduced after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami gives a thumbs-up on the field following a press conference where he was introduced after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami (L) shakes hands with General Manager Chris Getz on the field following a press conference where he was introduced after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami holds up a pair of white socks during a press conference where he was introduced at Rate Field in Chicago on Dec. 22, 2025.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami (R) holds his jersey with General Manager Chris Getz during a press conference where he was introduced at Rate Field in Chicago on Dec. 22, 2025.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami gives a thumbs-up during a press conference after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami attends a press conference after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago.

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Baseball: Japan slugger Murakami joins Chicago White Sox

New Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami attends a press conference after signing his first Major League Baseball contract with the team at Rate Field on Dec. 22, 2025, in Chicago.

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Baseball: GM meetings in Las Vegas

Seattle Mariners general manager Justin Hollander meets the press as Major League Baseball's general manager meetings get under way in Las Vegas on Nov. 12, 2025. Hollander expressed an interest in acquiring Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami after the Japanese Central League team posted the 25-year-old to MLB.

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Baseball: Ex-MLB outfielder Aoki retires

Former Major League Baseball outfielder Norichika Aoki (R) of the Yakult Swallows hugs infielder Munetaka Murakami after winning the final game of his career against the Hiroshima Carp on Oct. 2, 2024, at Tokyo's Jingu Stadium.

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Baseball: Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami

The Central League's Munetaka Murakami of the Yakult Swallows hits a two-run home run in the second inning of a Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star game against the Pacific League at Es Con Field Hokkaido in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, on July 23, 2024.

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Japan WBC members visit PM's office

Munetaka Murakami (L) of Japan's World Baseball Classic team shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the team's visit to the premier's office in Tokyo on March 23, 2023. The Japan team returned home earlier in the day after winning the WBC final in Miami, Florida.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (C) of Japan speaks at a press conference on March 22, 2023, after the team claimed the World Baseball Classic championship in Miami, Florida.

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World Baseball Classic

Japan's World Baseball Classic team manager Hideki Kuriyama (R) and player Munetaka Murakami celebrate with a champagne shower after the team claimed the WBC championship in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Shohei Ohtani (L) and Munetaka Murakami of Japan's World Baseball Classic team celebrate with a champagne shower on March 22, 2023, after the team claimed the WBC championship in Miami, Florida.

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World Baseball Classic

Shohei Ohtani (R) and Munetaka Murakami of Japan's World Baseball Classic team pose for photos after the team claimed the WBC championship on March 21, 2023, in Miami, Florida.

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World Baseball Classic

(From L) Munetaka Murakami, Yu Darvish and Lars Nootbaar of Japan's World Baseball Classic team celebrate with a champagne shower on March 22, 2023, after the team claimed the WBC championship in Miami, Florida.

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World Baseball Classic

(From L) Kazuma Okamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Munetaka Murakami of Japan's World Baseball Classic team celebrate with a champagne shower in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023, after the team claimed the WBC championship.

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World Baseball Classic

A fan at a public viewing site in Tokyo celebrates Munetaka Murakami's game-tying solo homer on March 22, 2023, while watching the Japan-U.S. World Baseball Classic final in Miami, Florida.

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World Baseball Classic

Japan supporters celebrate in the stands after Munetaka Murakami hits a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Japan teammates in the dugout celebrate Munetaka Murakami's game-tying solo homer during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Japan's Munetaka Murakami leaves the dugout to play in the World Baseball Classic final against the United States in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami hits a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami hits a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami hits a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami hits a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami hits a solo home run in the second inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic final against the United States at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (C) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (C) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami reacts after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami attends a press conference after helping Japan to a 6-5 victory over Mexico by hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal game at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (R) is splashed with a sports drink by teammate Roki Sasaki after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (C) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (C) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (L) reacts after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (R) celebrates with Shohei Ohtani after Japan beats Mexico with Murakami's walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal game at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (C) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (R) celebrates with Shohei Ohtani after Japan beats Mexico with Murakami's walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of the World Baseball Classic semifinal game at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (C) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (3rd from R) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami hits a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami reacts after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (3rd from R) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.

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World Baseball Classic

Munetaka Murakami (3rd from R) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Mexico at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 20, 2023.