Why a Bidet Might Be the Secret Weapon in MLB’s International Recruiting Game
When the Chicago White Sox landed Munetaka Murakami this offseason, they weren’t just adding a power-hitting infielder from Japan-they were making a statement. Murakami, fresh off a standout run with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Nippon Professional Baseball, is stepping into Major League Baseball for the first time. And while his bat is expected to do plenty of talking, it was a quieter, off-the-field request that caught the attention of the White Sox front office.
According to GM Chris Getz, Murakami had one notable observation upon arriving in Chicago: the team’s locker room didn’t have a bidet. “That’s new to him,” Getz said, recalling the conversation.
“It was like, ‘Okay, that’s new. We can do that.’”
Now, to some fans, that might sound like a quirky footnote. But for players making the leap from Japan to the U.S., it’s a very real part of adjusting to life in a new league-and a new culture.
Murakami’s request wasn’t about luxury; it was about comfort, familiarity, and feeling at home in a foreign clubhouse. And he’s not alone.
Last offseason, when Roki Sasaki was being courted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, he made a similar request. Dodgers president Stan Kasten was walking Sasaki through all the bells and whistles of their facilities-modern amenities, cutting-edge recovery tools, the works-when Sasaki had one simple question: “Are you going to have Japanese-style toilets?”
The Dodgers didn’t hesitate. They made it happen, and Sasaki signed on the dotted line.
Later, through an interpreter, Sasaki admitted, “It sounds like a joke. But for me, it’s pretty important.”
And that’s the point. What might seem like a punchline in a press conference or a fun fact buried in a scouting report is actually a meaningful part of the recruitment process.
For MLB teams looking to bring in top-tier Japanese talent, it’s a reminder that the little things matter. Cultural comfort can be just as crucial as pitch counts and launch angles.
This isn’t the first time a unique request has popped up in MLB contract talks, and it definitely won’t be the last. But if you’re ranking the most unusual demands, Murakami and Sasaki are still trailing one legendary outlier: Charlie Kerfeld.
Back in 1986, after a breakout season with the Houston Astros that saw him finish fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, Kerfeld entered contract negotiations with a very specific ask-37 boxes of orange Jell-O. That’s not a typo. The number was a nod to his jersey number, and yes, the Astros delivered.
So while Murakami’s bidet request might raise a few eyebrows, it’s hardly the strangest thing a front office has accommodated. And if it helps the White Sox get the best version of their new infielder, it’s a no-brainer.
Bottom line: if you’re an MLB team serious about signing Japanese stars, you might want to start shopping for bidets. Because sometimes, winning in free agency starts with simply making a player feel at home.