Munetaka Murakami Named All-Star, Adds Home Run Derby Spot After Return

Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami returned to the lineup on Friday after missing six weeks with a Grade‑2 right hamstring strain. He went 1‑for‑5 with a run and an RBI in a 14‑1 win over the Oakland Athletics. The 26‑year‑old was subsequently named to the American League All‑Star roster, replacing Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, and will also compete in the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia. His selection makes him only the second Japanese player, after Shohei Ohtani, to appear in the Derby. Prior to his injury, Murakami posted 20 home runs, 41 RBIs and a .938 OPS in 57 games, helping the White Sox climb to the lead of the AL Central. He signed a two‑year, $34 million free‑agent deal with Chicago in December and is expected to remain in the lineup through the All‑Star break, bolstering the club’s playoff push.