CHICAGO -- Munetaka Murakami is the final player to join the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday night, as announced on Friday. The White Sox breakout rookie was also selected as an American League All-Star reserve, replacing the Twins' Byron Buxton and joining teammate Miguel Vargas in Philadelphia.
2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby: July 13, 8 p.m. ET
• Set a reminder on Netflix (coverage begins 7 p.m. ET)
• Derby participants
• FAQ, including updated format
• Every team’s best HR Derby performance
• All-time Derby winners
That piece of news coincides with Murakami’s return to the White Sox lineup against the Athletics for the series opener at Rate Field, which the White Sox have confirmed will be a sellout.
The rookie slugger was out six weeks while rehabbing from a Grade 2 right hamstring strain suffered while beating out a double play grounder on May 29 against the Tigers, with the White Sox finishing 17-18 during his absence.
His 20 home runs during this highly productive season rank him tied for seventh in the American League, although he had not gone deep after connecting in three straight games from May 25-27 against the Twins. But remember, he’s been out of action for the past six weeks.
Murakami agreed to a two-year, $34 million free-agent deal this past offseason, joining Tadahito Iguchi, Shingo Takatsu and Kosuke Fukudome as the only Japanese players to suit up for the White Sox. His offseason availability to the White Sox, and at this salary point, was a surprise to many -- and Murakami has changed the franchise since his arrival.
He also has changed the White Sox lineup and helped to elevate optimism, as the South Siders have gone from three straight seasons with 100-plus losses to a playoff-contending team.
The home runs hit by Murakami have been no-doubters across the board, and he has a perfect swing for the Derby. The pitcher for Murakami has not been announced.
Carlton Fisk (1985), Frank Thomas (1994, '95), Paul Konerko (2002), Jermaine Dye (2006), Todd Frazier (2016), and Luis Robert Jr. (2023) have previously represented the White Sox in the Home Run Derby, with Thomas being the lone White Sox player to win the event in 1995. Robert hit 28 homers in the first round but fell in the semis.
Willson Contreras, Jac Caglianone, Ben Rice, Bryce Harper, Jordan Walker, Kyle Schwarber and Junior Caminero are the other Derby contestants.