Chicago White Sox: MLB GM’s still not sold completely on Munetaka Murakami

The Chicago White Sox are 24-23, which is a much better record than virtually anyone thought they would have at this point in the season. Currently, they are just two games out of first place in the American League Central Division. What is more, they have a real shot of making the postseason as a Wild Card team if they cannot win the central.

Of course, arguably the biggest star on Chicago’s roster right now is Munetaka Murakami. During the off-season, the White Sox were able to sign him to a two-year $34 million contract. Many MLB teams chose not to pursue the Japanese star because of high strikeout totals throughout his career in his home nation.

But despite his early success, those teams are not yet willing to admit they were wrong about him.

MLB GM’s not ready to admit they were wrong about Chicago White Sox star Munetaka Murakami

When Murakami first announced his intention to sign with a Major League Baseball team, leaving his professional career in Japan, many expected that he would receive a $100 million contract. After all, he once hit 56 home runs in a season and consistently hit between 30-40 on an annual basis.

But he also struck out a great deal. As it would turn out, his high strikeout totals in Japan scared MLB general managers away.

As of this writing, Murakami is currently hitting .242/.379/.564 with 17 home runs (which leads the American League) and 32 RBI. He has walked 37 times and struck out 66 times in 47 games played.

According to MLB insider Jayson Stark, his strikeouts are still giving opposing general managers pause:

“Maybe I’m just refusing to be wrong,” groused an exec from one team that dug in on Murakami heavily this offseason. “I don’t know. Maybe I can admit in, like, a month or a year that I was just an idiot — and I was wrong. I thought he was going to strike out too much. And I didn’t think he was going to hit.”

“I think he has more power than I thought he had,” the exec said. “Not that I didn’t think he had power. But he has tremendous power. …

“So I just think it’s jury out. That’s all I want to go with: Jury’s out. I’m not ready to say this is all going to collapse. I’m just saying I don’t know. It might. But he also might hit 52 homers and shut us all up.”

Murakami is currently on a four-game hitting streak and has raised his batting average up from around .220 to over .240. If he can hover around .240-.250 all year (yes, batting average has become overrated by many) while still drawing a high number of walks and hitting home runs at an absurd rate, perhaps these general manager will admit they missed the boat.

Of course, that kind of production would only benefit the White Sox as well.

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