The Tokyo Yakult Swallows are officially posting star slugger Munetaka Murakami to Major League Baseball today, according to multiple reports. All 30 MLB teams will have a 45-day window to negotiate with the 25-year-old, meaning he must sign by December 22.
Murakami’s posting comes as no surprise, as it’s been anticipated for years. Back in 2022, reports indicated that Yakult intended to make him available to MLB clubs following his age-25 season. Under the current posting system, Japanese players under 25 are considered international amateurs and subject to bonus-pool restrictions, as seen with Shohei Ohtaniand Roki Sasaki.
Because Murakami turned 25 this February, he faces no such limitations, allowing him to pursue a full-scale major league contract. The Swallows will also greatly benefit; for example, if Murakami signs a $100 million deal, Yakult would receive a $16.875 million posting fee.
The Kumamoto-native is among the most electrifying hitters ever to make the leap across the Pacific. He took home Central League MVP honors in both 2021 and 2022, guiding Yakult to consecutive Japan Series appearances and a championship in the former. His 2022 campaign was historic, breaking the single-season home run record for a Japanese-born player with 56, while also claiming the Triple Crown with a .318 average, 134 RBI, and a staggering 225 wRC+.
That said, there are legitimate questions about how his game will translate to MLB. Since the start of 2023, Murakami has posted a 29.1% strikeout rate, the worst among all qualified NPB hitters during that stretch. His sub-75% in-zone contact rate is another major red flag, underscoring the swing-and-miss concerns that could be further exposed against MLB pitching.
He’s also struggled against plus velocity, batting just .188 with a .762 OPS in his career against fastballs clocked at 93 mph or higher. Defensively, he’s unlikely to stick at third base, where he’s spent most of his career, after recording an alarming -92 Defensive Runs Saved since 2018. As such, he would be limited to first base or designated hitter, placing even greater emphasis on his offensive production.
Even so, Murakami’s youth, prodigious power to all fields, and immense upside are certain to make him one of the most coveted players on the market this winter. If he can harness the potential he’s displayed in NPB, where he slashed .270/.394/.557 for his career, and improve on his contact flaws, he has the tools to quickly become a Matt Olson or Max Muncy-esque impact bat.
Murakami is also expected to once again play a key role for Samurai Japan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. In 2023, he endured a rough start to the tournament and was even dropped from the cleanup spot, but redeemed himself in dramatic fashion, delivering a walk-off two-run double against Mexico in the semifinals and later blasting a moonshot off Team USA’s Merrill Kelly in the final to help Japan secure the championship.
Contract projections vary widely: ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel forecasts a relatively conservative five-year, $80 million deal, while Ben Clemens of FanGraphs predicts a huge seven-year, $154 million contract, which would make him the highest-paid position player out of Japan in MLB history.
