This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
HOUSTON – David Keller -- a special assistant to White Sox general manager Chris Getz who runs international scouting -- and director of player personnel Gene Watson were part of the front office contingent at Daikin Park for the White Sox four-game set against the Astros.
Their presence makes greater sense when considering they both have residences in the Houston area. But the focus of this story centers upon the 12 days they just spent scouting in Japan.
No, this was not a pilot for a reality show, although with their engaging personalities and baseball acumen, it probably would be worth a network pitch.
Instead, this trip is an example of life going on for the White Sox, always looking to get better for the future, even while working diligently toward their first playoff appearance since 2021.
“Relationships are important. Relationships matter. Information matters,” Watson told me while standing with Keller in front of the White Sox dugout Monday. “The more you work at building relationships, with other teams or internationally or with agents, that’s going to be a benefit to your organization. Dave and Satoshi [Takahashi], Adrian Puig, Louis Silverio, they have done an unbelievable job with our international department.
“Maybe the most impactful part in our three years here is what they have done with the international department. That matters. Those relationships, it might not be now, it may be three or five years down the road. But the information and the relationships truly matter.”
Puig serves as an international crosschecker for the White Sox, while Silverio holds the title of assistant director of international scouting and Latin American operations. But Takahashi is more essential to my present story centered upon White Sox Pacific Rim pursuits.
Takahashi, who played a significant role in the scouting of first baseman Munetaka Murakami, is on the ground in Japan for the White Sox and helped Keller and Watson get to where they want to go during this journey. It was a multi-targeted excursion, according to Keller.
“The purpose of the trip is really to focus on players who could potentially come over to MLB in the next year to two years,” Keller said. “But we are also looking at domestic players, meaning U.S. born players who are currently participating in the league, and trying to start to build history on younger players who we feel like we want to keep an eye on and continue to see.
“Even if we had not been fortunate enough to sign Mune, we were still going to continue to invest in the Pacific Rim and make sure that we had a presence there because we believe good players can come from anywhere. It’s important to the White Sox. It’s important to our brand. We are going to continue to scout players over there and try to find ways to help this team here be successful.”
Murakami truly changed the team after agreeing to a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox. There were already young players developing into Major League presences, as viewed through the White Sox overall showing after the 2025 All-Star break, but Murakami added an immediate star presence.
Discussions of rebuilds quickly were squelched by Murakami. He wanted to win. He knew the team could win, and on Sept. 2, they are No. 1 in the American League Central with 24 games to play.
“I’ve been on record as saying he’s somebody who it’s difficult to quantify the type of superstar he is in Japan,” said Keller of Murakami.
“Knowing that and knowing the production he had in Japan, it’s important context to what he brings to this clubhouse. We have a young group, a group that is finding its footing at the Major League level, trying to win for the first time together.
“He’s experienced that. He not only brings a level of experience but he’s an unbelievable person, an unbelievable teammate. Somebody who cares about winning. His work ethic I’m sure rubs off on those around him. So, beyond just the physical gifts he brings to the game on a nightly basis, all of those things have been really important to the club in general.”
Watson and Keller and the entire organization are looking for the next Murakami or someone of that ilk. Tadahito Iguchi and Shingo Takatsu contributed to the 2005 World Series title, but along with Kosuke Fukudome, they represent the sum total of White Sox players from Japan prior to Murakami.
On this last trip for Watson and Keller, the elevated White Sox presence in Japan was seen in ways outside the field.
“I was concerned he was going to get arrested for yelling at people in the streets, ‘Go White Sox,’” said a smiling Keller of Watson.
“We wear White Sox gear out in public, and I was amazed at the number of fans who would say something to us, and we would say something to them and what that brand has done with Mune being here,” Watson said. “What the brand has done over there in a short period of time.”