Spotlight History-making Munetaka Murakami is already 'one of the boys' with White Sox Bob Nightengale USA Today Apr 25, 2026 18 hrs ago 0 × SNTV Moment: Murakami homers for 4th straight game Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save PHOENIX — The debates are raging on the Chicago airwaves:kAm(9@ H:== E96 q62CD 5C27En (9@ D9@F=5 E96 qF==D 9:C6n (:== E96 q=24<92H<D 6G6C H:? 282:?n pC6 E96 rF3D 2C6 3F:=E 7@C ~4E@36Cnk^AmkAm|62?H9:=6[ 6G6C D@ BF:6E=J @? E96 $@FE9 $:56 @7 E@H?[ @?6 @7 E96 36DE DE@C:6D :? 2== @7 32D632== :D >2E6C:2=:K:?8]k^AmkAm%96 ?2>6 :D |F?6E2<2 |FC2<2>:[ 2?5 E96 r9:428@ (9:E6 $@I D=F886C 92D 3FCDE @?E@ E96 D46?6 2D @?6 @7 E96 82>6’D AC6>:6C 9@>6\CF? 9:EE6CD :? E96 :?72?4J @7 E96 a_ae D62D@?]k^Am Munetaka Murakami joined the White Sox before the 2026 season. Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images kAm|FC2<2>: 92D 2=C625J 9:E `_ 9@>6 CF?D — @?6 D9J @7 E96 |{q =625 — 2?5 E:65 2 (9:E6 $@I 7C2?49:D6 C64@C5 3J 9@>6C:?8 :? 7:G6 4@?D64FE:G6 82>6D] w6 2=D@ 92D E96 >@DE 9@>6CD 3J 2 y2A2?6D6\3@C? A=2J6C :? E96 7:CDE ad 82>6D @7 2 42C66C[ ca 82>6D 62C=:6C E92? 7@FC\E:>6 |'! $9@96: ~9E2?: :? 9:D a_`g C@@<:6 J62C]k^Am People are also reading… McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes 5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley Old Fort man charged with threatening clerk of court in McDowell County This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer McDowell County park may get updates to trails, disc golf course, fishing access Former McDowell High volleyball coach, counselor pleads guilty to child sex crimes mid-trial Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." He got a tattoo to commemorate a Fred Durst concert in Morganton. It never actually happened. QB Bryce Young gets honest about Panthers' big change on offense for 2026 McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering Trial against former McDowell High volleyball coach accused of sex crimes began Wednesday Brush fire burns along Interstate 40 near Nebo; traffic down to one lane Mission Hospital McDowell’s Emergency Services recognized nationally as Unit of Distinction GOAT Collaborative’s at Resilience Ranch in Marion aims to support farms, environment, community City of Marion issues water shortage advisory due to drought kAmx7 J@F 42C6 E@ 5C62>[ |FC2<2>: 962565 :?E@ E96 (9:E6 $@I’D 9@>6DE2?5 uC:52J 2E #2E6 u:6=5 282:?DE E96 (2D9:?8E@? }2E:@?2=D @? A246 E@ 9:E ed 9@>6CD H:E9 `ab #qxD 2?5 `be H2=<D E9:D D62D@?]k^AmkAmQx’> C62==J 6?;@J:?8 >JD6=7[Q |FC2<2>: E@=5 &$p %@52J $A@CED] Qx’> 86EE:?8 >@C6 4@>7@CE23=6 6G6CJ 52J] x’> 86EE:?8 FD65 E@ E96 5:776C6?E CF=6D 2?5 5:776C6?E A=2J:?8 DEJ=6D :? E96 >2;@C =628F6] tG6CJE9:?8 92D 366? 8C62E]Qk^Am kAm%96 (9:E6 $@I[ DEF??65 E96>D6=G6D H96? |FC2<2>: 76== :?E@ E96:C =2AD E9:D H:?E6C H:E9 2 >@56DE EH@\J62C[ Sbc >:==:@? 4@?EC24E 4@>:?8 7C@> y2A2?[ 4@F=5?’E 36 >@C6 E9C:==65]k^Am kAmw6 92D 366? 6G6CJE9:?8 E96 (9:E6 $@I 4@F=5 92G6 :>28:?65[ 2?5 >F49[ >F49 >@C6] tG6CJ@?6 <?6H 9:D A@H6C[ 3C62<:?8 E96 D:?8=6\D62D@? 9@>6\CF? C64@C5 :? y2A2? H:E9 de 9@>6CD] *@F 5@?’E H:? EH@ |'!D H:E9@FE E2=6?E]k^Am Mlb White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami putting on historic HR show BOB NIGHTENGALE USA Today kAmqFE 96’D >2<:?8 >F49 >@C6 4@?E24E E92? E2=6?E 6G2=F2E@CD AC65:4E65[ 9:EE:?8 ]adb H:E9 2 ]bhc @?\32D6 A6C46?E286 2?5 ]hha D=F88:?8 A6C46?E286] w6 =@@<D >F49 36EE6C 5676?D:G6=J 2E 7:CDE 32D6 E92? E96 D4@FE:?8 C6A@CED :?5:42E65] w6’D 6G6? 8@E DA665[ 362E:?8 @FE EH@ :?7:6=5 D:?8=6D E9:D H66< @? 8C@F?5 32==D :? pC:K@?2]k^Am kAmp?5 96 92D 2 H9@=6 =@E @7 E62>D <:4<:?8 E96>D6=G6D 7@C ?@E >2<:?8 2? @776C]k^Am kAmQ~3G:@FD=J[ E96C6 H6C6?’E E62>D E92E C2:D65 E96:C 92?5D H96? x 42>6 @G6C[Q |FC2<2>: D2:5[ Q3FE x’> C62==J 8=25 2?5 92AAJ E92E E96 (9:E6 $@I A:4<65 >6 FA] …] x =@G6 E96 E62> G6CJ >F49] p== >J E62>>2E6D 2C6 G6CJ @A6? E@ 4@>>F?:42E:@?] %96J 2C6 C62==J ;FDE 8@@5 E62>>2E6D @G6C2==] $E277[ 4@2496D[ x =@G6 E96> G6CJ >F49]Qk^AmkAm%96 766=:?8[ ?665=6DD E@ D2J[ :D BF:E6 >FEF2=]k^Am kAmQxV> CF??:?8 @FE @7 E9:?8D E@ D2J[Q (9:E6 $@I >2?286C (:== '6?23=6 D2:5] Q(96? 96 9:ED :E[ 96 9:ED :E C62==J 92C5] tG6? E96 D:?8=6D 96VD 9:EE:?8[ 96VD 9:EE:?8 92C5] p?5 @3G:@FD=J E96 52>286 :D :?4C65:3=6[ E@@]k^Am kAmQxEVD :>AC6DD:G6 E@ H2E49]Qk^Am kAmr6CE2:?=J[ 96 92D A=2J65 2 >2;@C 724E@C :? E96:C DFC86] %96 (9:E6 $@I 92G6 ba 9@>6CD E9:D J62C[ C2?<:?8 E9:C5 :? E96 p>6C:42? {628F6 2?5 D:IE9 :? |{q] p J62C 28@[ E96J H6C6 ?6IE\E@\=2DE[ H:E9 @?=J E96 z2?D2D r:EJ #@J2=D 9:EE:?8 76H6C]k^Am kAmQw6’D 2 82>6\492?86C[Q (9:E6 $@I @FE7:6=56C p?5C6H q6?:?E6?5: D2:5] Qw6’D :>A24E65 E9:D H9@=6 =:?6FA] x =@G6 9:EE:?8 :? 7C@?E @7 9:>] x D66 >@C6 32==D :? E96 K@?6[ 2?5 6DA64:2==J 962E6CD]k^AmkAmQx ;FDE 9@A6 E96 H:?5 DE2CED 492?8:?8 :? r9:428@ D@ J@F’== D66 9:> 9:E >@C6 32==D] x >62?[ 96’D 8@E F?36=:6G23=6 A@H6C]Qk^AmkAm|FC2<2>: 9:E a[`de 766E H@CE9 @7 9@>6CD :? 9:D 7:G6\82>6 32CC286[ :?4=F5:?8 2 cd`\7@@E 3=2DE (65?6D52J ?:89E 282:?DE E96 pC:K@?2 s:2>@?5324<D] w6 2=C625J 92D E9C66 9@>6CD E92E 92G6 EC2G6=65 2E =62DE ``b >A9 @77 9:D 32E[ =625:?8 |{q]k^Am kAm#62==J[ E96 A6CD@? AC@323=J =62DE :>AC6DD65 :D |FC2<2>: 9:>D6=7] w6 6IA64ED E9:D] p?5 2 H9@=6 =@E >@C6 2D E96 D62D@? AC@8C6DD6D]k^AmkAmQ|J DH:?8 :D AC6EEJ 8@@5 @G6C2==[Q |FC2<2>: D2JD] QxE’D DE:== 62C=J :? E96 D62D@?[ D@ x DE:== 92G6 E@ <66A 25;FDE:?8 E@ E96 A:E496CD[ 3FE C:89E ?@H x’> DH:?8:?8 C62==J H6==] x7 E96 DE2ED 5@ 4@>6 FA 2D 2== 8@@5[ E92E H:== 36 H@?56C7F=]Qk^Am kAm%96 (9:E6 $@I’D J@F?8 A=2J6CD 92G6 366? >6D>6C:K65 3J |FC2<2>: D:?46 9:D 2CC:G2=] %96J >2CG6= 2E 9:D >6E:4F=@FD AC6A2C2E:@?] %96 H2J 96 E2<6D 32EE:?8 AC24E:46] %96 H2J 96 8C:?5D E2A6] %96C6’D 2 86?F:?6 AFCA@D6 E@ 6G6CJE9:?8 96 5@6D 7C@> E96 >@>6?E 96 6?E6CD E96 4=F39@FD6]k^Am kAmQyFDE H2E49:?8 9:> 8@ 23@FE 9:D 52J\E@\52J 3FD:?6DD 2?5 E96 56E2:= E92E 96 AFED :? 2?5 E96 2>@F?E @7 E:>6 96 AFED :?[Q D2:5 (9:E6 $@I 42E496C zJ=6 %66= D2JD[ Q:E’D ;FDE 2H6D@>6 E@ D66] w6’D G6CJ 56E2:= @C:6?E65] %96 56E2:=D 96 AFED :? :D ;FDE 72?E2DE:4]k^AmkAmQ$@[ H96? E96 82>6 DE2CED[ E96 DF446DD 5@6D?’E DFCAC:D6 >6 3642FD6 96 ;FDE H@C<D D@ 92C5] w6 4@>A6E6D E96 H2J H2J 6G6CJ D:?8=6 2E\32E[ ?@ >2EE6C H92E E96 D4@C6 @7 D:EF2E:@?] w6 ?6G6C 86ED 5@H? @? 9:>D6=7] x ;FDE =@G6 E92E]Qk^AmkAmp?5 J6D[ E96C6’D E92E H@C< 6E9:4]k^Am kAmQ(96? H6’C6 @? E96 C@25[ :E’D >@DE=J E96 C6923 8FJD E92E 86E @? E92E 62C=J DE277 3FD E@ 86E 96C6 62C=J[ 2?5 96’D @? :E[Q D2:5 %66=[ C64@G6C:?8 7C@> 2 DEC2:?65 92>DEC:?8 5FC:?8 E96 (qr] Qx’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ =:6[ x 5:5?’E 6G6? <?@H A=2J6CD H6C6 2==@H65 E@ E2<6 E96 DE277 3FD F?E:= x 8@E 9FCE]Qk^Am kAm$2:5 q6?:?E6?5:i Qw6’D 8@E 2 C@FE:?6[ 2?5 96 DE:4<D E@ :E 6G6CJ 52J] (6 H6C6 ;@<:?8 2=C625J E92E 96’D 2 =@E >@C6 5:D4:A=:?65 E92? 2 =@E @7 FD :? 96C6] w6 86ED 9:D H@C< :?[ 2?5 96’D 2 AC@46DD\@C:6?E65 8FJ 7@C DFC6]Qk^Am kAm%96 (9:E6 $@I 2=D@ 2C6 =62C?:?8 E92E 56DA:E6 E96 =2?8F286 32CC:6C[ E96 5F56 42? 36 2 4@>65:2?] w6’== 4C24< ;@<6D] w6’== 8@ 2=@?8 H:E9 AC2?<D] p?5 96’== 6G6? D:?8[ A:4<:?8 FA E96 EF?6D 2?5 =62C?:?8 E96 H@C5D 7C@> E96 Q!2CEJ pAA=6 !66=[Q 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6 C@4< 4@G6C 32?5 :? r9:428@]k^Am kAm%96 (9:E6 $@I A=2J6CD DE:== 2C6 =2F89:?8 23@FE E96 E:>6 96 E@@< E96 >:4 @? E96 E62> 3FD 2?5 36=E65 @FE 2 76H EF?6D[ >F49 E@ E96:C A=62DFC6 2D A2CE @7 9:D C@@<:6 :?:E:2E:@?]k^Am kAmQw6’D 8@E 2 8C62E D6?D6 @7 9F>@C[Q (9:E6 $@I D9@CEDE@A r@=D@? |@?E8@>6CJ D2:5] Qp4EF2==J[ 96’D 9:=2C:@FD] *@F AF== 324< E96 =2J6CD 27E6C 7:CDE >66E:?8 D@>6@?6[ 2?5 J@F 7:?5 @FE 96’D @?6 E96 3@JD]Qk^AmkAm|FC2<2>: 92D 366? 2 D>2D9 9:E H:E9 E96 >65:2[ E@@] w6’D 2G2:=23=6 E@ E2=< G:CEF2==J 6G6CJ 52J[ 2?5 92D DA@<6? E@ C6A@CE6CD FA@? C6BF6DE 27E6C 96 92D 9@>6C65]k^Am kAmxE’D 2 =:EE=6 5:776C6?E @? E96 $@FE9 $:56[ H:E9 @?=J 2 92?57F= @7 y2A2?6D6 C6A@CE6CD 4@G6C:?8 9:> @? 2 52:=J 32D:D[ 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 ?F>36C 4@G6C:?8 E96 s@586CD H:E9 $9@96: ~9E2?: 2?5 4@>A2?J] qFE E9:D D>2== >65:2 82E96C:?8 DF:ED 9:> ;FDE 7:?6]k^Am kAmQx 5@?’E C62==J <?@H H92E E96 s@586CD 2C6 =:<6[Q |FC2<2>: D2JD[ Q3FE x =:<6 E96 >65:2 @G6C 96C6] x’> 2== 8@@5] xE 5@6D?’E C62==J 27764E >6 2E 2== @C 492?86 H9@ x 2>]Qk^Am kAmxE 2=D@ H@C<D @FE BF:E6 ?:46=J E92E @? E96 }@CE9 $:56 @7 E@H? E96 rF3D 92G6 y2A2?6D6 DE2CD $6:J2 $FKF<: 2?5 $9@E2 x>2?282 E@ AC@G:56 A=6?EJ @7 E:AD 7@C 5:?:?8[ D9@AA:?8 @C ;FDE 92?8:?8 @FE] p?5 :7 96 ?665D 2?J 9:EE:?8 25G:46[ 96J[ 96’D 8@E ~9E2?:’D 5:8:ED @? 9:D 46== A9@?6 E@@]k^Am kAmQp =@E @7 5:776C6?E y2A2?6D6 32D632== A=2J6CD 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 92G6 C624965 @FE 2?5 96=A65 >6[Q |FC2<2>: D2:5] Q%96J’G6 2== 8:G6? >6 8@@5 25G:46]Qk^AmkAm}@H[ E96 D46?6 :D D6E 7@C |FC2<2>: E@ A6C92AD 6G6? 364@>6 E96 7:CDE (9:E6 $@I A=2J6C E@ H:? E96 p>6C:42? {628F6 9@>6\CF? E:E=6 :? >@C6 E92? 2 92=7\46?EFCJ] %96 (9:E6 $@I[ 6G6? 92G:?8 D=F886CD =:<6 uC2?< %9@>2D[ y:> %9@>6[ p=36CE q6==6[ z6? vC:776J yC[ !2F= z@?6C<@ 2?5 p52> sF?? @G6C E96 J62CD[ 92G6 ?@E 925 2 9@>6\CF? 492>A:@? D:?46 w2== @7 u2>6C s:4< p==6? 9:E ba 9@>6CD :? `hfc]k^Am kAmQx 567:?:E6=J E9:?< :E’D 364@>:?8 >F49\D66 %'[Q D2:5 (9:E6 $@I 2?2=JDE $E6G6 $E@?6[ E96 7@C>6C rJ *@F?8 H:??6C[ Q3642FD6 6G6? E9@F89 H6’C6 ?@E H:??:?8 E96 (@C=5 $6C:6D E9:D J62C[ H6 2C6 6?E6CE2:?:?8] x C6>6>36C ,7@C>6C (9:E6 $@I @H?6C. q:== '664< D2:5 E@ >6[ Vx7 J@F’C6 A=2J:?8 @? D9@CE >@?6J[ 2=H2JD 6CC@C @? E96 D:56 @7 @776?D6[ 3642FD6 @776?D6 :D 6I4:E:?8]VQk^AmkAm$@[ :7 |FC2<2>: <66AD 9:EE:?8 9@>6CD[ 5@6D 96 4C62E6 6?@F89 @7 2 7C6?KJ E@ 364@>6 2 3:886C 82E6 2EEC24E:@? E92? 2 !@A6 {6@ 92E 8:G62H2Jnk^Am kAmQ%96C6’D ?@ 5@F3E 23@FE :E E92E 72?D H:== D9@H FA :7 E92E’D E96 42D6[Q $E@?6 D2:5] Q(6’== D66 H92E 92AA6?D] x <?@H 72?D =@G6 E96 =@?8 32==]k^Am kAmQp?5 x 92G6 ?@ 5@F3E E96J’== =@G6 |F?6[ E@@]Qk^Am Mlb MLB's 'Ohtani Rules' explained: Baseball benefits despite gripes Josh Peter USA TODAY Mlb Living legend Max Scherzer says playing piano saved Hall of Fame career Bob Nightengale USA Today 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Moment: Murakami homers for 4th straight game Moment: Murakami homers for 4th straight game Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Grading EVERY PICK of the 2026 NFL Draft - Rounds 1-3! Fans react to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ selection at 169th overall Fans react to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ selection at 169th overall Track drying underway at Talladega Superspeedway after Saturday rain Track drying underway at Talladega Superspeedway after Saturday rain NFL Draft 2026 Every First Round Pick & Team Selections (Complete List) NFL Draft 2026 Every First Round Pick & Team Selections (Complete List)
Mlb Living legend Max Scherzer says playing piano saved Hall of Fame career Bob Nightengale USA Today