Munetaka Murakami, the White Sox first baseman, is garnering attention for his personality as well as his performance on the field. He currently leads the Majors with 13 home runs. Murakami’s impact extends beyond his performance, with people taking notice of his character.
Making Time for Young Fans
Following a victory, Murakami spent 15 minutes answering questions from the media after homering in the contest. Instead of going to cool down, shower and return to the hotel, Murakami stopped to talk with Jett Beckham, 5, and Bode Beckham, 3, who were with their dad, Gordon, in the White Sox clubhouse.
Beckham told MLB.com that Murakami spent a few minutes with his kids, who wanted to give him a high five after he hit a home run. Beckham said it shows who Murakami is.
Murakami smiled and crouched down to talk to Jett and Bode. The conversation ended with the requested high-fives.
Team Bonding Off the Field
Murakami organised a sushi dinner for 10 or 11 White Sox individuals on a Thursday off-day. Attendees included Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, Sean Burke, Noath Schultz, Sam Antonacci, Mike Vasil and interpreter Kenzo Yagi. Burke said the dining was Omakase style, so they were trying everything that came out.
Burke recounted a moment from the dinner. He couldn’t eat a deep-fried shrimp with the shell still on, but Murakami ate the whole thing.
Their celebration during that meal led to a special handshake between Murakami and Montgomery after they both homered on Friday.
Montgomery said it was an authentic Japanese restaurant. He said it was good, but a little too much fish for him.
Manager’s Perspective
White Sox manager Will Venable highlighted Murakami’s all-round contribution. He said that Murakami’s performance on the field sometimes overshadows the teammate he is. Venable noted his engagement with teammates and leadership in meetings and in the clubhouse.
Murakami is considered a special player by those around him. The White Sox are developing into a special team, at least through the first weekend of May, with Murakami at the centre.