White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami has been named an American League All-Star reserve, replacing the Twins’ Byron Buxton, and will compete in Monday’s Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, per the Chicago Sun-Times. He joins teammate Miguel Vargas on the AL squad and becomes the second Japanese-born player to enter the Derby, after Shohei Ohtani in 2021. Murakami has 20 home runs, 42 RBI and a .921 OPS in 59 games despite missing six weeks with a hamstring strain; he returned to the lineup Friday. Fantasy managers who stashed him through the IL stint can plug him back in at first base immediately.
Munetaka Murakami Named AL All-Star Reserve, Will Compete in Home Run Derby
The White Sox rookie replaces Byron Buxton on the AL roster and becomes the second Japanese-born player to enter the Derby, after Shohei Ohtani in 2021.
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