The Chicago White Sox have been looking for more power. They might have found an answer after landing Japanese free-agent slugger Munetaka Murakami. The Sox are signing the left-handed hitting infielder to a two-year, $34 million contract, a source confirmed to the Tribune. The club made the signing official later Sunday afternoon. Murakami, 25, has 246 home runs and 647 RBIs in 892 career games over eight seasons for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the Nippon Professional Baseball Central League. He hit 36 home runs in 2019, 39 in 2021 and 56 in 2022. During the span, he led the NPB in home runs, RBIs, walks (614), slugging percentage (.557) and OPS (.979). The two-time MVP (2021 and 2022) has five seasons of at least 31 home runs. In addition to the 56 home runs in 2022, Murakami had 134 RBIs while hitting .318 on the way to becoming the youngest player in NPB history to win the Triple Crown at 22. The 56 homers are the second-highest total in NPB history and the most by a Japanese player. Murakami slashed .273/.379/.663 with 22 home runs and 47 RBIs in 56 games during a 2025 season hampered by an oblique injury. He’s played 696 career games at third base and 263 at first base for the Swallows. Murakami has a career .270/.394/.557 slash line. He has some high strikeout totals, including 180 in 2024. Murakami played for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, hitting a two-run, walkoff double in a semifinal victory against Mexico and a game-tying solo home run off Merrill Kelly of Team USA in the finals. ESPN’s Jeff Passan initially reported Sunday’s signing, adding that the plan is for Murakami to play first base. According to MLB.com, Murakami was posted by the Swallows on Nov. 7, giving him until Monday at 4 p.m. to reach an agreement with a major-league club. He is the fourth Japanese-born player to play for the Sox, joining pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Murakami joins a Sox young roster that includes shortstop Colson Montgomery, catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero, second baseman Chase Meidroth, third baseman Miguel Vargas and center fielder Luis Robert Jr. as key position players. The Sox finished 23rd in the majors with 165 home runs in 2025. Infielder Lenyn Sosa led the way with 22, Montgomery was next with 21 as a rookie, while left fielder Andrew Benintendi finished with 20. Murakami has the potential to add another jolt to the lineup. More White Sox headlines White Sox win 2026 MLB draft lottery and will have the No. 1 pick for the 1st time in 49 years 4 takeaways from White Sox finalizing Will Venable’s coaching staff, including striving for efficiency Anthony Kay lost his confidence, but the new White Sox pitcher found his groove again in Japan 3 White Sox takeaways from winter meetings, including adding 2 pitchers and losing 1 in Rule 5 draft ...read more read less