CHICAGO -- Munetaka Murakami departed Friday’s series opener against the Tigers at Rate Field with right hamstring tightness after beating out a one-out fielder's choice grounder to second in the third inning. He is undergoing further evaluation, according to the White Sox.
Chicago's first baseman, who has appeared in all 57 games this season, appeared to grab at his right hamstring and wince as he was walking back to first. Murakami was replaced by Luisangel Acuña, who scored from first on Miguel Vargas’ double in the next at-bat.
Murakami, 26, is tied with Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the American League lead with 20 home runs. He also is tied with the Angels' Zach Neto for the AL lead at 80 strikeouts. Murakami has changed the franchise over the first two months of his first Major League career, agreeing to a two-year, $34 million deal in the offseason. The Japanese sensation features a .938 OPS and a .378 on-base percentage.