PHILADELPHIA -- Royals slugger Jac Caglianone succinctly summed up White Sox rookie All-Star Munetaka Murakami.
“[He has a] perfect home run swing,” Caglianone said.
Murakami, 26, participated in his first MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night during All-Star Week at Citizens Bank Park. He hit nine home runs in the first round, falling short of advancing after Phillies hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber hit 10. Jordan Walker of the Cardinals won the Derby by defeating Schwarber in the finals.
Murakami admitted before the event that he was nervous. He hoped hitting his first homer would calm those nerves. In his inaugural MLB All-Star competition, Murakami averaged 421 feet and 110 mph on his homers. His longest and hardest-hit home run flew a Statcast-projected 466 feet at 114 mph.
Murakami was pitched to by White Sox coach and bullpen catcher Luis Sierra.
Murakami is only the second Japanese-born player to compete in the Home Run Derby. Shohei Ohtani participated in 2021 at Coors Field in Denver.
“He has very raw power,” said Nationals All-Star southpaw Foster Griffin, who pitched against Murakami in Japan. “I think even the balls that he misses can still get out. He also has a very good eye at the plate, too. So he kind of knows what he’s looking for when he’s going up there.”
Murakami earned a spot in the competition after crushing 20 homers before going on the IL on May 30. He returned from the right hamstring strain on Friday.
Murakami brought sheer power to the competition. He ranks in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate and barrel rate. Of his 20 home runs this season, 13 were no-doubters (HRs in all 30 ballparks).
“I've seen him take or hit fastballs out on the outside of the plate and also up and in,” said Blue Jays All-Star right-hander Louis Varland. “I think what he does well is hit that fastball really well. It doesn't matter where it's at, so that's always a dangerous hitter.”
Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox in December. A four-time All-Star in Japan, he won back-to-back MVP Awards in Nippon Professional Baseball (2021 and '22).
“He looks like he's been here for a while,” Caglianone said. “NPB's another really, really good league, and Japanese pitchers are really good. … The shift [to the Majors] was seamless, in my opinion, the way I've seen it.”