Overview
- Manager Will Venable says Munetaka Murakami will be the primary first baseman and hit in the middle of the order, with some exposure to third base possible.
- Murakami impressed in live and simulated sessions, including a double on Sunday and multiple hard-hit balls that teammates and coaches cited as proof of his “real power.”
- He will stay in camp through Feb. 27 to accumulate at-bats before reporting to Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic.
- Former Yakult manager Shingo Takatsu and other Japanese baseball figures observed workouts and voiced confidence that Murakami will adjust to MLB pitching.
- Clubhouse integration has been smooth with interpreter support and cultural accommodations such as bidet installations, while evaluators continue to watch his adjustment to major-league velocity and swing-and-miss tendencies.