White Sox home opener: Murakami's hot start offers hope amid rebuild

The reason for optimism: Rookie Munetaka Murakami. The Sox didn't fare well on the opening road trip, but he hit three long balls in his first three games, exciting fans desperate to find something to cheer.

• The slugger is generating national buzz early in the season.

Reality check: The Sox aren't going to compete for a title this season. They are mired in a multiyear rebuild, hoping a slew of minor league prospects will change the team's fortunes sooner rather than later.

• The team has two towering left-handed pitchers waiting in the wings, but Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith may not see time in the big leagues this year.
• They also have the first overall pick in the MLB draft in July, where they'll likely pick UCLA sensation and generational talent Roch Cholowsky.

Zoom out: There aren't a lot of changes at The Rate this season, beyond the usual menu tweaks. The ballpark still reigns supreme for its food options.

Between the lines: The biggest long-term question isn't on the field. Last month, it was announced that owner-in-waiting Justin Ishbia is in the process of buying the 47-acre Amtrak railyard in the South Loop. It could become the site of a new Sox stadium down the line.

• Ishbia himself could take over from Jerry Reinsdorf as the majority shareholder as early as 2029.

The bottom line: The Sox are improving, but still a long way from celebrating in October.