Munetaka Murakami hits 12 home runs and strikes out 46 times
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 30
Munetaka Murakami hits 12 home runs and strikes out 46 times
12 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 30
The 26-year-old Chicago White Sox rookie first baseman entered Thursday tied with Aaron Judge for the MLB home-run lead and is on pace for about 63.
He has no doubles or triples yet, making him the first player since at least 1900 to open a career with more than 10 homers before any other extra-base hit.
About 61% of his plate appearances end in a walk, strikeout or homer, yet his .939 OPS and .375 on-base percentage have made his extreme power-first approach productive.
Is Munetaka Murakami’s historic home run pace a revolutionary new model or a spectacular flameout waiting to happen?
As Murakami thrives with a low batting average, does his success prove baseball's most traditional statistic is now irrelevant?