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Chicago White Sox rookie infielder Munetaka Murakami isn’t off to a plausible start — he’s off to a scorching one.
Here are Murakami’s first 53 MLB games by the numbers (230 plate appearances):
1: Murakami ranks first among MLB rookies in home runs (18), runs batted in (37), slugging percentage (.540), OPS (.914), runs scored (37) and walks (41). He also leads the White Sox in each of the aforementioned categories, as well as in on-base percentage (.374).
3A: Murakami has scored three or more hits in four games.
3B: He ranks third among rookies with 1.6 wins above replacement.
3C: Despite the absurd display of power, Murakami has managed only three doubles.
4: Murakami’s 18 home runs in his first 53 games tie him for fourth most home runs leading off a career in that span, according to MLB.
18: Murakami leads the American League with 18 home runs, which ranks second in MLB as a whole.
37: His 37 RBIs are tied for fourth in the American League.
41: He is fifth in the MLB with 41 walks.
48: Murakaki played both first and third base in Japan (2018-25), but primarily played hot corner. However, with the White Sox he has made 48 starts at first base, three as the team’s designated hitter and none at third base.
76: Of course, the flip side of gargantuan power can be an enormous amount of strikeouts, as Murakami is tied for fourth in the MLB with 76 strikeouts.
97: Murakami ranks in the 97th percentile in MLB in average exit velocity (94.0 mph), according to Statcast.
98: He ranks in the 98th percentile of the sport in hard hit percentage (58.0%) and barrel percentage (20.5%), according to Statcast.
139: Murakami’s on-base percentage (.374) is .139 higher than his batting average (.235).
155: Murakaki leads the White Sox with a 155 OPS+.
914: His .914 OPS is 12th in the MLB.
