White Sox are already seeing the payoff from Munetaka Murakami's power
Munetaka Murakami is not just adding power to the White Sox lineup, he is becoming the one hitter capable of changing a game with a single swing. His power was one of the chief reasons the White Sox pursued him so heavily, and it's immediately evident why.
Though the White Sox have been improving upon their performance in previous seasons, they're still working on their consistency issues. Murakami has become an anchor that the rest of the team can lean on, especially when it comes to the need for a big hit. Through 32 games played, Murakami is boasting a .239 batting average and he's smashed 13 home runs , the most in the league, and one more than Aaron Judge .
Murakami is giving the White Sox a reliable source of offense
Murakami's game changing production has been impactful across the board. He's had multiple games with multiple RBIs, posting 19 in April alone. Those home runs weren't just random home runs, but rather they were hits that the team really needed, and Murakami was really coming through.
The sweepstakes surrounding Murakami's eventual signing in Chicago was well reported, and multiple teams were in the running. As such, his high profile means that most pitchers aren't treating him as a rookie, and rightfully so. Even being prepared for him hasn't spared pitchers, and many more are already adjusting their game when he's in the lineup.
Murakami's presence has already paid for itself in his offensive production alone. Given the White Sox's inconsistencies, a player like him is needed to keep things grounded and to reduce the margin for error. Murakami has been an excellent middle of the order threat , and his ability to keep the team competitive in closer moments has become a necessity.
For a lineup that struggles to string hits together, having a hitter who can change the game in one swing is not a luxury. It is the reason the White Sox are staying in games.
This article was originally published on www.dawindycity.com as White Sox are already seeing the payoff from Munetaka Murakami's power .
