Can Munetaka Murakami revive the White Sox in 2026?
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The Sox dugout at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
The White Sox hope a new international star will bring much-needed excitement to their 2026 season.
The latest: Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami was signed this offseason and will likely play first base for the South Siders.
The big picture: He may be the shot in the arm the young club needs to finally climb out of the AL cellar.
By the numbers: The 26-year-old set the single-season home run record for a Japanese-born player with 56 home runs for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows back in 2022.
- He joins a team that showed promise in the second half of 2025 but still finished with just 60 wins.
What's happening: At the Sox's Camelback Ranch spring training facility, fans were optimistic about Murakami and the Sox, even with consecutive losing seasons.
What they're saying: "It's always fun to get out to the ballpark to see how the team looks," Mike Costones, who grew up in Beverly but now lives in Tucson, tells Axios.
- "The Sox don't draw as much as some of the other teams, but there's still a big group of Chicagoans that come here every year."
Zoom in: The Arizona facility caters to Sox fans, even as they share the stadium with the Dodgers.
- While the Rate is famous for its food, the concession stands in Glendale are filled with generic Chicago staples, like hot dogs, sausages and even Italian beef, although the rosemary bread definitely wasn't authentic.
Zoom out: The team took a big swing on Murakami, but didn't do much else to help the ballclub. They traded star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. for little return, mostly to clear his salary off the books.
- Moves like the trade of Robert Jr. usually signal a team is not ready to compete for the playoffs.
Yes, but: This team is moving forward with young prospects who now have a chance to play every day, like shortstop Colston Montgomery and catcher Kyle Teel.
Friction point: Pitching. The Sox rotation lacks star power. All-Star Shane Smith is back, but it's unclear who will get the opening day nod. Newcomer Sean Newcomb will get a look, and Erick Fedde returns.
What we're watching: Two highly touted pitching prospects. Left-handers Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith are unlikely to be on the opening day roster, but they could start their White Sox careers later this season.
Related: Chicago baseball fans escape winter for spring training in Arizona