Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami left Friday’s match against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning due to tightness in his right hamstring. The team announced that Murakami is currently undergoing further medical evaluation.
Murakami experienced the injury while running to first base on a fielder’s choice play in the bottom of the third inning at Rate Field. With a teammate on first base and one out, he struck a ground ball to Tigers’ second baseman Zach McKinstry. The Tigers managed to get a force out at second, but Murakami successfully beat the throw to first base, preventing a double play. After reaching first base, the training staff examined Murakami, and he was subsequently removed from the game.
Before this game, Murakami was tied with Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros for the American League lead in home runs, both having hit 20. He also shared the top spot in the AL for RBIs with Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays, both at 41 RBIs. Murakami, who joined the White Sox on a two-year contract after spending eight years with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, is notably the only rookie in major league history to achieve 20 home runs before the month of June.