"The 25-year-old Murakami has been NPB's premier power hitter since breaking into the league as a teenager, launching 246 homers over eight seasons. The best of those came in 2022, when he hit 56 homers to break the legendary Sadaharu Oh's single-season record. Between that power and his relative youth, it's believed Murakami could land a deal approaching $200 million."
"There is, however, serious potential for him to struggle with strikeouts in MLB. The left-handed hitter has struck out at around a 29% clip over the last three seasons, and that number figures to increase significantly at the game's highest level. Murakami is also a middling defensive player who has spent a lot of time at third base but probably fits best at first."
Munetaka Murakami will be posted by the Yakult Swallows, opening a 45-day MLB negotiating window. The 25-year-old has 246 homers over eight NPB seasons and hit 56 homers in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh's single-season record. His power and youth could produce a contract approaching $200 million. Murakami has struck out roughly 29% over the last three seasons, a rate likely to rise in MLB. He is a left-handed, middling defender who has split time at third base but likely projects best at first base or as a DH. Teams such as the Mets and Red Sox are expected suitors, with posting rules potentially sending nearly $30 million to Yakult on a roughly $180 million deal.
Read at Cubsinsider
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