The Chicago White Sox last had three players with 30 or more home runs in a season in 2008. Carlos Quentin hit 36 home runs while Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome each had 34. That year, the team made the playoffs. The White Sox hope to replicate that success with Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and Colson Montgomery all reaching the 30-homer mark this season. As of Wednesday, the Sox lead the American League Central by two games over the Cleveland Guardians, with 18 games left in the season.
“No. 1, any time that you have a player, one player that can change the score with a single swing, it’s impactful. When you have three guys with 30 homers, that presents more challenges for the other pitcher to deal with,” said manager Will Venable on Sunday.
The White Sox are counting on this power throughout their playoff push. Here is an overview of how each player has reached their milestone and what lies ahead.
Miguel Vargas
White Sox slugger Miguel Vargas was the first to hit 30 home runs for the team. His journey began with a grand slam against the Marlins on March 30 in Miami, ultimately leading to the team’s first win after a sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers. Vargas stated at the time, “I was pretty confident in trying to get a good pitch and trying to drive (in) some runs.”
Vargas reached his 10th home run on May 15 during a loss to the Cubs. His 20th home run occurred on July 3 against the Guardians, accounting for all of the offense in a tight loss. Vargas experienced a brief drought before achieving his 30th home run on August 25 against the Minnesota Twins.
“It’s pretty awesome. I know how hard it is and I’ve been working very hard. Achieving one of these moments means a lot for me,” Vargas said after hitting his 30th.
He excelled against the Detroit Tigers this season, hitting four home runs against them. The Sox face the Tigers from September 17-20.
Colson Montgomery
Colson Montgomery also hit 30 home runs, starting with a grand slam against the Brewers on March 29. His 10th homer was on May 9 against the Seattle Mariners. He hit his 20th home run in a win against the New York Yankees on June 18.
Montgomery accomplished his 30th home run on September 8 against the Twins, and remarked, “Doing it on the same night and being able to share with Vargas is awesome.” He quickly added his 31st home run, setting a franchise record for a primary shortstop. He has also excelled against key opponents like the Yankees and Guardians.
Munetaka Murakami
New addition Munetaka Murakami showcased his power early, hitting a home run on opening day against the Brewers. His 10th home run on April 22 marked a significant period of five consecutive games with home runs. By May 27, Murakami achieved 20 home runs—the only rookie in modern history (since 1901) to do so before June. An injury sidelined him from May 29 to July 10.
Murakami reached 30 home runs on September 9 against the Twins. Reflecting on the achievement, Murakami noted, “The lone goal I had was not to get injured, and not about home runs. Results come at the end.”
Despite missing games, Murakami managed to hit home runs against both the Tigers and Guardians. The Sox continue to rely on their power hitters as they push for the playoffs, standing at 189 home runs and aiming for their best since 2008.