Close to a dozen reporters with cameras gathered near the visitors dugout at Rate Field, documenting a discussion between Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami and Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga before Friday’s City Series game.
Moments later, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki walked over for a conversation with Murakami.
“I was just really happy to meet them and greet them,” Murakami, speaking Saturday through an interpreter, said of the get-together among the players from Japan. “We are both in Chicago, but you don’t really get to meet them. I was happy to catch up.”
The meeting was part of Murakami’s first City Series, a weekend filled with high energy throughout the packed ballpark.
“It’s a tremendous field to play in front of those crowds,” Murakami said.
He gave Sox fans something to cheer about Saturday, hitting two home runs in an 8-3 victory. He had a solo home run in the third inning and a two-run home run in the fifth. It marked the first multihomer game of his major-league career.
“I’m really glad I was able to contribute,” he said.
Murakami didn’t leave the yard Sunday but went 1-for-5 with a double and a run in the 9-8 victory against the Cubs in 10 innings.
Murakami enters Monday’s series opener against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park first in the American League with 17 home runs and second in the majors to Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies, who has 20.
“What he’s doing is very impressive,” Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas said Saturday. “The way he prepares, the way he sets his routine before the game every night is unbelievable. For me, just watching the guy every night is unbelievable.
“Everything from him is a lot to learn. Having him and learning from him every day, how to prepare, how much it matters for him to win every game, that’s very important for us. He wants to set that up for the whole group and we are delivering.”
Murakami’s accomplishments are catching the attention of the competition.
“I can’t really understand why 29 other teams weren’t interested, to be completely honest,” Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon said Saturday. “Just some groupthink where people just decide they were out on him and the whole league decided they were out. It’s crazy to me. I mean, he can hit, he can put the ball in the seats. He’s young (26), he’s got a ton of juice.
“He’s got a presence up there, for sure. He controls the strike zone. He does a lot of things really well. It’s crazy to me that more teams weren’t interested, to be completely honest. I don’t know what the situation was, but it seems like he’s got a great fit here and he’s comfortable here and they’ve made him feel welcome — and it’s clearly showing with how he’s playing.”
Sox manager Will Venable said Murakami keeps showing the ability to adapt.
“We’re seeing him make adjustments every day,” Venable said after Saturday’s game. “He’s learning these pitchers for the first time — this is his first time seeing all these guys. He’s able to make (adjustments) in games, pitch to pitch, at-bat to at-bat. So really good stuff from him. And we’ve seen that adjustability really from Day 1.”
Through Sunday, the Sox were the only team in the majors featuring three players with at least 10 home runs in Murakami, Colson Montgomery (13) and Vargas (11).
Murakami has had a meaningful presence on and off the field.
“Having a guy up here who’s also a left-handed bat and has power, it’s one of those things where I’m kind of getting questions to a test,” Montgomery said before Sunday’s game.
And off the field, Montgomery said Murakami is “a great dude.”
“I think this was the best fit for him coming over here,” Montgomery said. “A lot of young guys who are very upbeat and positive and just want to enjoy ourselves too. He’s a great fit.”
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Murakami continues to put in the work to gain knowledge in an attempt to keep producing at the plate.
“There are obviously new pitchers every single day coming, a variety of pitches,” he said. “That’s something I have to adjust to every single day. Seeing a variety of pitches, getting comfortable at the plate is what’s leading to my good results.”