MLB Eyes Explosive Power: Infielder Munetaka Murakami’s Posting Window Opens—Who Will Win the Race?

Here’s a curveball that’s stirring up the baseball world — Munetaka Murakami, Japan’s bashing sensation, is making his grand entrance into Major League Baseball’s posting system starting this Saturday, offering teams a window until December 22 to snag him as a free agent . The guy’s not just any prodigy; at 25, about to hit 26 in February, Murakami’s got two Central League MVP titles, back-to-back from 2021 and 2022, under his belt with the Yakult Swallows, plus a solid Four All-Star nods. You know that kind of talent you can’t just bench or overlook? That’s him. Sure, his latest run was trimmed to just 56 games thanks to an oblique injury — still managed to swing with a .273 average, wallop 22 homers, and rack up 47 RBIs. Not bad for someone nursing a nagging grind. Don’t forget, back in 2022, Murakami didn’t just hit; he demolished records — blasting 56 home runs to shatter Sadaharu Oh’s benchmark for Japan-born players in Nippon Professional Baseball. Plus, he bagged the Triple Crown as the youngest ever in Japan, a feat that’s the stuff of legends. Over eight seasons, exclusively with the Swallows, he’s carved out a .270 batting average, launched 246 homers, and fired 647 RBIs in nearly 900 games–yeah, that consistency is something you dream about. He’s transitioned from first base early in his career to owning the hot corner at third base — that’s where he’s made his mark most recently. And don’t forget his clutch plays on the world stage — remember his walk-off double at the 2023 World Baseball Classic semifinals that scored none other than Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida? That hit kicked Japan past Mexico 6-5. Then, the very next day, he hit a game-tying homer off Merrill Kelly as Japan took down the United States 3-2 for the championship. Now, here’s the financial twist in the tale: the posting system is structured with a sliding scale posting fee—20% on the first $25 million of his MLB contract, dipping to 17.5% on the next 25, then 15% on anything beyond $50 million, plus a 15% cut on any bonuses or escalators. It’s a savvy, tiered setup meant to handle the big bucks in today’s ball game. Intrigued yet? This could be a game-changing acquisition for any MLB team looking to inject some serious juju into their lineup. LEARN MORE

NEW YORK — Power-hitting Japanese corner infielder Munetaka Murakami is entering Major League Baseball’s posting system and will be available to teams to sign as a free agent from Saturday through Dec. 22.

Murakami, who turns 26 on Feb. 2, was the Central League’s MVP in 2021 and ’22 with the Yakult Swallows and is a four-time All-Star.

He batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs this season, limited to 56 games by an oblique injury. He struck out 64 times.

Murakami hit 56 homers in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown. He topped 30 homers in four straight years before an injury-interrupted season in 2023.

He has a .270 career average with 246 homers, 647 RBIs and 977 strikeouts in 892 games over eight Central League seasons, all with the Swallows.

After playing primarily at first base in 2019 and 2020, he has spent most of his time since at third.

At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Murakami hit a ninth-inning walk-off double off Giovanny Gallegos that scored Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida to give Japan a 6-5 semifinal win over Mexico. The following day in the championship game, Murakami hit a tying home run off Merrill Kelly in the second inning and Japan went on to beat the United States 3-2.

Under the agreement between MLB and NPB, the posting fee will be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.