Munetaka Murakami seeks MLB posting amid injury woes and 56 home runs

How much will Japan's 56-home run monster hitter receive?

On the 25th, Japan's Kyodo News reported that the professional baseball Yakult Swallows have reiterated their willingness to allow infielder Munetaka Murakami (25) to transfer to Major League Baseball through the posting system.

Hayashida Tetsuya, the team's president and acting owner, said, "If Murakami wants to go to Major League Baseball, we will support him."

Murakami has expressed his intention to pursue a move to Major League Baseball through the posting system, stating, "Next year will be my last season in Japan," after completing a contract worth 600 million yen for the 2025 season last year.

Murakami is a monster hitter in the NPB league. In the 2022 season, he became the first player in the world to hit home runs in five consecutive at-bats and recorded his 56th home run, surpassing Oh Sadaharu (Wang Jeong-chil) to become the all-time leader in home runs by a Japanese player.

Since then, he has hit 30 home runs in consecutive years until last year and has been crowned the home run king for the third time.

After completing last season, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow. Before this season, he showed determination to lead the team to victory for the first time in three years, but he suffered a rib injury in his comeback game, limiting him to just one game played.

As of last year, he has recorded a career batting average of .270 with 224 home runs, 600 RBIs, and an OPS of .945.

The treatment conditions for Japan's monster hitter are also of great interest. He ranked 4th in the FA power rankings and has garnered considerable attention. U.S. media have reported that he could receive between $200 million to as much as $300 million (approximately 408.3 billion won). His limited appearances this year, with only one game played, appear to be a concern.

The highest amount received by an Asian player in Major League Baseball history is $113 million (approximately 153.8 billion won), which Lee Jung-hoo received upon joining the San Francisco Giants.

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