'Blockbuster' Kim Ha-seong earns less than 'Japanese monster' Murakami, who explodes with 19th home run! Solo lead in AL home run race

*This content was translated by AI.

A truly 'legendary monster rookie' has appeared on the Major League Baseball (MLB) stage. 'Japanese monster slugger' Munetaka Murakami (26, Chicago White Sox) hit his 19th home run of the season, firmly securing the solo lead in the American League (AL) home run race. Before June even ended, he already drew 19 arcs, standing shoulder to shoulder with legendary home run kings in MLB history.

On the 27th (Korea time), Murakami started at second spot in the batting order and first base in the home game against the Minnesota Twins at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in the '2026 Major League' season, launching a dramatic two-run tying home run that saved the team from a defeat crisis.

With this home run, Murakami continued his solo lead in the AL home run category, surpassing formidable competitors such as Jordan Alvarez (Houston Astros, 18 home runs) and Aaron Judge (New York Yankees, 17 home runs).

Especially eye-catching is Murakami's overwhelming 'cost-performance.' Ahead of this season, Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox through the posting system (closed competitive bidding). In terms of 2026 season salary, this amounts to $17 million (approximately 25.5 billion won). Compared to Kim Ha-seong (31), a Korean MLB player who signed a major one-year, $20 million (approximately 30 billion won) contract with the Atlanta Braves, Murakami's salary is about $3 million (approximately 4.5 billion won) less. While earning less than Kim Ha-seong, he is leading a home run race that shakes up the entire MLB.

Murakami's 19th home run of the season recorded today carries historical value beyond a simple tying run. According to prominent baseball writer Francis Romero, since the 1901 season, only two rookies in modern baseball history had hit 19 home runs before June arrived.

They are Mark McGwire (then Oakland), known as the 'original home run king' in the 1987 season, and Pete Alonso (New York Mets) in 2019. With this home run, Murakami joined these legendary sluggers in the record books, achieving a feat of tying the MLB all-time rookie home run record. If Murakami adds more home runs before June, he will surpass them.

Murakami's home run today was also perfect in terms of nutritional value. With the team trailing 0-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning, one out, and a runner on first base, with a 1-ball-1-strike count, he targeted opposing starter Joe Ryan's sweeper and launched a massive home run over the right-field wall. The exit velocity of the hit ball reached an impressive 108.4 mph (approximately 174.4 km/h). After a tense extra-inning battle, the team narrowly lost 3-5, but Murakami's home run march continues. At this pace, he is on track for 56 home runs.

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*This content was translated by AI.