Munetaka Murakami gave White Sox fans a reason to smile at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia, and it had nothing to do with the Home Run Derby bracket.
The Chicago club has three representatives at the Midsummer Classic - Miguel Vargas, Tristan Peters and Murakami - but the biggest off-field news came from the slugger himself. James Fegen of Sox Machine reported that Murakami made it clear he’d like to remain in Chicago well beyond his current deal.
“All-Star first baseman Munetaka Murakami said he's not thinking or talking specifics about contract extensions right now, but affirmed that he would like to stay with the White Sox long-term,” Fegen reports.
That’s the kind of update White Sox supporters were hoping to hear. Murakami is under a two-year, $34 million contract that runs through the 2027 season, and the idea of him sticking around after that clearly isn’t off the table from his side.
The 26-year-old has been a force for Chicago this season, putting up 20 home runs with a .232 batting average and 1.8 bWAR in 211 at-bats across 60 games. He’s also carrying a .911 OPS and a 152 OPS+, which helps explain why he earned his All-Star spot in the first place.
Murakami got his first chance to shine in the Home Run Derby, though he didn’t move on to the semifinals. Even so, making the field was still a notable moment. And for the White Sox, the more important takeaway may be what came after: their star slugger wants to stay put for the long haul.
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