Braden Montgomery Hits 2-Run Walk-Off Homer as White Sox Beat Braves

Q: Can Japanese rookie Munetaka Murakami maintain his historic home run pace and lead Chicago's surprising surge?

Probably not at this exact pace, but Murakami looks capable of remaining a major driver of Chicago’s surge when healthy. The case for sustainability is strong. Murakami has already delivered elite power in his first MLB season, reaching 20 home runs in 57 games, a 58-homer pace, while posting a .240/.378/.560 line and a .938 OPS. The underlying data supports that production: a 95 mph average exit velocity, a 26.2% barrel rate, top-tier hard-hit metrics, and the ability to punish premium velocity. Those are not fluky indicators; they place him among the league’s most dangerous power hitters. The main reason to doubt a truly historic pace is contact. Murakami strikes out heavily, with one of the lowest contact rates in the majors, and he is especially vulnerable to sliders and changeups. That profile can still produce big home run totals, but it also makes prolonged slumps more likely as pitchers adjust. A Kyle Schwarber-type outcome—huge power, many walks, many strikeouts—is more realistic than a smooth run at 58 homers. His ability to lead Chicago also depends on availability. Murakami is currently on the 10-day injured list, so he cannot actively carry the offense in the immediate term. Even so, he has already been central to the White Sox’s turnaround, alongside Miguel Vargas, Randal Grichuk, and a breakout season from Davis Martin. Chicago’s rise is real, but sustaining it will require more than Murakami alone.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 16

Braden Montgomery ended the game with a walk-off two-run homer in the 10th inning, lifting Chicago past Atlanta.
The blast delivered the White Sox another signature win in a season where they have emerged as an unexpected contender and climbed above .500.
Montgomery’s swing capped a tight extra-inning game and underscored Chicago’s broader offensive production, which has kept pace with more established lineups.
The result adds to the White Sox’s surprise first-half momentum as they approach the midpoint of the 2026 season.