Munetaka Murakami hit 35 home runs and helped the Chicago White Sox reach the American League Division Series after a 7-3 victory over the Astros on September 30, 2026, celebrating the postseason berth with energetic English interviews in the clubhouse.
The regular season wrapped up on September 27, 2026, with two notable Japanese newcomers making an impact in the American League according to sports reporting. Munetaka Murakami emerged as a central figure for a Chicago club that engineered a remarkable turnaround.
White Sox Reach Postseason Behind Murakami Rookie Power
The Chicago franchise endured staggering struggles in recent years, finishing 61-101 in 2023, setting an American League modern-era record with 121 losses in 2024 at 41-121, and dropping 102 games in 2025. Moving across the Pacific via the posting system, Murakami signed a short-term, two-year deal worth 3400万ドル because scouts harbored concerns about his high swing-and-miss rate as detailed in league evaluations.
He immediately quieted those doubts.
Murakami homered in his first three regular-season games and strung together a five-game home run streak starting April 17. He eventually climbed to the top of the home run leaderboard temporarily, earned an All-Star selection in July, and became just the second Japanese player to participate in the Home Run Derby following Shohei Ohtani in 2021 noted by sports correspondents. Though his strikeout numbers climbed in August and September, he finished the year with 35 home runs, leading all Japanese major leaguers and ranking fifth in the American League.
White Sox Eliminate Astros in Houston Wild Card
On September 30, 2026, at Daikin Park in Houston, the White Sox secured a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series verified by game coverage. The two-game sweep propelled the wild card squad past the West Division champions and straight into the next round.
Murakami started at first base and batted fourth, going hitless with three strikeouts in five at-bats reported by field correspondents. The team’s offense pounded out seven runs to back a dominant team performance.
Murakami Headlines Clubhouse Celebration With Viral English
When the champagne started flowing in the visiting clubhouse, Murakami quickly became the main attraction for American media outlets observed during the celebration. Field reporters rushed to interview the slugger, who gleefully delivered a series of memorable, unscripted English remarks without relying on his interpreter.
When a local broadcaster asked about his feelings after the series clincher, he shouted One hundred!
in response to a question about his energy level according to broadcast transcripts. He pointed to his interpreter, Kenzo Yagi, and joked He is drunk! before shouting I am drunk! and mentioning a hangover noted in on-field interviews. When the reporter playfully asked about tomorrow, Murakami corrected himself with a laugh, shouting No! Not yesterday! Tomorrow! Sorry! I don’t speak English! captured by network cameras.
His outgoing personality resonated instantly across American digital platforms. OutKick, an outlet under Fox News Media, remarked that fans could not help but root for him while USA Today highlighted how he became a fan favorite in his debut season. Fans on social media also frequently echoed his earlier postseason catchphrase, I’m Japanese! which he first shouted during the team’s initial playoff-clinching celebration tracked through fan posts on X.
White Sox Face Cleveland Guardians in ALDS
With the wild card round behind them, the White Sox advance to face the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series announced by league officials. Games are scheduled to begin on October 3, 2026, bringing the team back toward its home territory on Chicago’s South Side as the surprising postseason run continues stated in schedule announcements.