MESA, Ariz. - Munetaka Murakami is quickly becoming a focal point of attention during spring training, drawing a media following that rivals the team's manager. With his eyes set on the World Baseball Classic, Murakami plans to make the most of his Cactus League appearances, aiming for about five games to sharpen his skills and conditioning.
As he gears up for his first taste of the Cubs-Sox rivalry, Murakami admits he’s still learning about its storied history. "I don't know much about it at the moment, but I’ll get used to it," he shared through an interpreter.
Murakami's introduction to American baseball culture also included a lesson in local traffic woes. A delay on the I-10 nearly kept him out of the lineup, but he eventually made it to the field.
Meanwhile, the White Sox are dealing with the usual spring training bumps and bruises. Everson Pereira, who has been impressing in practice, had to sit out due to "right side tightness," giving Tristan Peters a chance to step in.
On the mound, Tyler Schweitzer is set to pitch a couple of innings. The versatile lefty, who has experience in various pitching roles, is embracing his role as a utility pitcher.
Last season, he showed promise with a stellar 1.27 ERA at Double-A Birmingham, though he faced challenges at Triple-A Charlotte with a 7.92 ERA. Schweitzer is focused on refining his mechanics, particularly his foot landing, to improve his consistency.
Zach Franklin, another arm to watch, will also see action. Known for his solid strikeout rate, Franklin keeps his approach straightforward: "Throw fastballs at the top rail, throw changeups off of it, mix in a slider every now and then."
Lineups:
Cubs: 1.
Jonathon Long, 1B
2.
Alex Bregman, 3B
3.
Seiya Suzuki, CF
4.
Miguel Amaya, C
5.
Dylan Carlson, RF
6.
Chas McCormick, LF
7.
Pedro Ramirez, 2B
8.
B.J. Murray, DH
- Scott Kingery, SS
- SP: Jameson Taillon
White Sox: 1.
Curtis Mead, 3B
2.
Kyle Teel, C
3.
Austin Hays, LF
4.
Munetaka Murakami, 1B
5.
Derek Hill, CF
6.
Sam Antonacci, 2B
7.
Korey Lee, DH
8.
Tristan Peters, RF
9.
Tanner Murray, SS
- SP: Jonathan Cannon
As spring training unfolds, all eyes are on these players as they fine-tune their game and prepare for the challenges ahead.