MLB Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami Hits 13th Homer of Season, Leads Home Run Count
Munetaka Murakami of the MLB Chicago White Sox hit his 13th home run of the season against the San Diego Padres, taking the sole lead in home runs across both the National and American Leagues. If he maintains this pace, he could hit 65 home runs this season.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 14:49
- 🔍 Collected: May 2, 2026 at 15:01 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 2, 2026 at 16:14 (1h 13m after Collected)
SAN DIEGO, May 1 (CNA) — Japanese star Munetaka Murakami of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Chicago White Sox hit a three-run home run in his second at-bat in the second inning against the San Diego Padres today, marking his 13th home run of the season and career in MLB, leading both the National and American Leagues.
Japanese media outlet Full-Count reported that if Murakami maintains his current pace, he is on track to achieve an astonishing 65 home runs in a single season.
Murakami has been red-hot since transitioning from Japanese professional baseball to MLB this season, frequently hitting home runs. Today, another powerful home run showcased his batting prowess.
In the top of the second inning, with two outs and runners on first and third, Murakami targeted a splitter from Padres pitcher German Marquez that dropped right into the strike zone, sending it over the right-center field wall for a three-run shot. This instantly extended the White Sox's lead to 6-0.
Murakami's home run had an exit velocity of 111.1 mph (approximately 178.8 km/h), a flight distance of 413 feet (approximately 125.9 meters), and a launch angle of 26 degrees.
As Murakami rounded the bases, he raised his right hand in celebration, and after returning to the dugout, he smiled and high-fived his teammates.
This was Murakami's first home run since his game-winning three-run shot against the Los Angeles Angels on April 27. Murakami was previously tied with New York Yankees' "Judge" Aaron Judge and Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez with 12 home runs, sharing the top spot in the MLB home run rankings. Now, he once again stands alone at the top of the MLB home run list.
The White Sox scored six runs in the top of the second inning, followed by one run each in the fifth and eighth innings. The Padres scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth but ultimately lost 2-8 to the White Sox.
After the game, Murakami's season statistics include playing 32 games, a batting average of .239, 13 home runs, and 26 RBIs, ranking fifth. His overall on-base plus slugging (OPS) is .967. Additionally, he has drawn 27 walks, ranking fourth.
Japanese media outlet Full-Count reported that if Murakami maintains his current pace, he is on track to achieve an astonishing 65 home runs in a single season.
Murakami has been red-hot since transitioning from Japanese professional baseball to MLB this season, frequently hitting home runs. Today, another powerful home run showcased his batting prowess.
In the top of the second inning, with two outs and runners on first and third, Murakami targeted a splitter from Padres pitcher German Marquez that dropped right into the strike zone, sending it over the right-center field wall for a three-run shot. This instantly extended the White Sox's lead to 6-0.
Murakami's home run had an exit velocity of 111.1 mph (approximately 178.8 km/h), a flight distance of 413 feet (approximately 125.9 meters), and a launch angle of 26 degrees.
As Murakami rounded the bases, he raised his right hand in celebration, and after returning to the dugout, he smiled and high-fived his teammates.
This was Murakami's first home run since his game-winning three-run shot against the Los Angeles Angels on April 27. Murakami was previously tied with New York Yankees' "Judge" Aaron Judge and Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez with 12 home runs, sharing the top spot in the MLB home run rankings. Now, he once again stands alone at the top of the MLB home run list.
The White Sox scored six runs in the top of the second inning, followed by one run each in the fifth and eighth innings. The Padres scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth but ultimately lost 2-8 to the White Sox.
After the game, Murakami's season statistics include playing 32 games, a batting average of .239, 13 home runs, and 26 RBIs, ranking fifth. His overall on-base plus slugging (OPS) is .967. Additionally, he has drawn 27 walks, ranking fourth.