MLB

Japanese Home Run King, Munetaka Murakami, is Headed to MLB

Murakami hit 56 home runs in 2022 in Nippon Professional Baseball, breaking the league’s single-season record for homers by a Japanese player.
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Japanese Home Run King, Munetaka Murakami, is Headed to MLB
Japan's Munetaka Murakami celebrates after a semi-final baseball game against South Korea at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Yokohama, Japan, on Aug. 4, 2021. Matt Slocum/AP Photo
Ross Kelly
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The single-season Major League Baseball (MLB) home run record has seen the torch passed from Babe Ruth (60 home runs) to Roger Maris (61) to Mark McGwire (70) to Barry Bonds (73). Thus, someone who could be described as the Japanese Barry Bonds finally coming over to the United States and joining the MLB is monumental news.

Japan’s home run king, Munetaka Murakami, is headed to the MLB, as all 30 clubs were informed Friday that the slugger is being posted by his Japanese team.
Ross Kelly
Ross Kelly
Author
Ross Kelly is a sports journalist who has been published by ESPN, CBS and USA Today. He has also done statistical research for Stats Inc. and Synergy Sports Technology. A graduate of LSU, Ross resides in Houston.