The Chicago White Sox will be without rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami for four to six weeks due to a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring, manager Will Venable announced Saturday.
The White Sox placed Murakami on the 10-day injured list earlier on Saturday.
The 26-year-old first baseman, who shares the American League lead with 20 homers, sustained the injury in Friday’s home win against the Detroit Tigers.
Murakami grabbed his hamstring after hustling down the first base line to beat out a double play in the third inning. He was removed from the game and walked gingerly to the dugout without assistance; pinch runner Luisangel Acuna replaced him. An MRI on Saturday confirmed the injury.
“It hurts. It hurts,” Murakami said through an interpreter as to how his hamstring feels on Saturday.
Murakami is batting .240 with 41 RBIs and leads the AL with 43 runs scored through 57 games in his first year in the majors. The Japanese star signed a two-year, $34 million contract in December.
“It’s obviously disappointing at this stage being injured,” Murakami said. “There’s a lot of ways to contribute to the team, like cheering on and other stuff I can do. I’ll keep doing that so they can keep grinding as a team.”
In corresponding transactions, Chicago selected the contract of infielder Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte and transferred right-hander Jordan Leasure (right flexor strain) to the 60-day injured list.
Gonzalez, who is celebrating his 24th birthday, was not in the starting lineup for Saturday’s matinee with the visiting Detroit Tigers. He is ranked as Chicago’s No. 23 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
A first-round pick (15th overall) by Chicago in 2023 out of Ole Miss, Gonzalez is slashing .317/.419/.668 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs in 52 games at Charlotte this season. He leads the minor leagues in RBIs and total bases (133) and is tied for the lead in homers through Friday.
Most of Gonzalez’s starts in the minors have been at shortstop, although he has started five games this season at first base and five at second base.
Gonzalez could become just the second player in White Sox history to make his major league debut on his birthday, joining left-hander Ken Patterson on July 8, 1988.
–Field Level Media
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