Munetaka Murakami becomes first Japanese-born rookie to hit 30 home runs

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/murakami-munetaka/Um3qc5aF/"]Murakami[/a], 30, hit an oppo-taco off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-twins/OjWW1naM/"]Minnesota Twins[/a] starting pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bradley-taj/hOC7vaFs/"]Taj Bradley[/a] in the bottom of the first inning, also bringing his RBI total to 61.[/p][p]He is now the 15th player to reach 30 home runs this season and the third on the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-white-sox/SW9D1eZo/"]White Sox[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vargas-miguel/KWk2Y3Hq/"]Miguel Vargas[/a] - 30, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/montgomery-colson/rPq2s8dk/"]Colson Montgomery[/a] - 31). [/p][embed guid="8cd1d632-78d3-4d8d-82af-cd4dc185a1bb" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2096379179470082139?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The rookie sensation signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox during the offseason and has emerged as a superstar for the team.[/p][p]Despite bringing his season batting average up to .213 following the homer, Murakami is still posting the third-best on-base percentage (.353) and second-best slugging percentage (.486) on the White Sox.[/p][p]Murakami has already broken multiple records this season. He broke legendary Hall of Famer Eddie Murray's record after homering in eight straight series openers. Tied the rookie MLB record for most consecutive games (five) with at least one home run. And he broke Shohei Ohtani's record to become the fastest Japanese-born player to hit 10 home runs in his rookie season, doing so in 24 games.[/p][p]All this after starting his rookie campaign with three home runs during Opening Weekend. [/p][embed guid="d9376b20-189f-4a94-a838-25762f023c7e" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18iGoNl3KlE&pp=ygUPTXVyYWthbWkgcmVjb3Jk" social-type="youtube" /][infobox id="3e982646-21d3-4baf-ac34-10f731dff476" /]