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  "path": "/sports/2026/04/05/mune-and-malort-chicago-is-white-sox-star-munetaka-murakami-yakult-swallows",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-06T01:16:17.402Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>Give him a second, city.</p><p>Japanese slugger <b>Munetaka Murakami</b> just completed his first weekend in Chicago, and the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>White Sox</u></a>’ most exciting new player still has a growing to-do list in dire need of check marks.</p><p>Murakami, whose <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/04/04/munetaka-murakami-home-run-powers-white-sox-past-blue-jays\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>four home runs</u></a> were the most in the first eight MLB games by a Japanese-born player, sat with the Sun-Times for a quick chat after the Sox’ sweep-completing 3-0 victory Sunday against the Blue Jays and was eager to discuss first impressions of his new hometown.</p><p>The most Chicago thing he has done?</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" data-embed> <iframe width=\"113\" height=\"200\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/4mYgColc01Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"White Sox star Munetaka Murakami discusses his first impressions of Chicago\"></iframe> </div> </div></div><p>‘‘I’ve been experiencing the Chicago cold, the temperature,’’ Murakami said through interpreter <b>Kenzo Yagi</b>. ‘‘That is what I have been experiencing the most.’’</p><p>How about a hot dog? Deep-dish pizza? Even Malort?</p><p></p><p>Murakami laughed. Malort? That was met with a scrunched gaze.</p><p></p><p>‘‘Not anything Chicago yet,’’ he said.</p><p></p><p>It only has been a weekend. Give him time.</p><p></p><p>His favorite thing about Chicago so far?</p><p></p><p>‘‘White Sox fans,’’ he said in excellent English.</p><p></p><p>‘‘I’m really grateful for the fans cheering me on,’’ he said through his interpreter.</p><p></p><p>If there were worries about Murakami’s time away from the Sox with Team Japan during the World Baseball Classic, those have subsided.</p><p></p><p>‘‘He really fit in immediately,’’ manager <b>Will Venable</b> said. ‘‘Before he left for the WBC, I thought he immersed himself with the group really well. He was engaging with the guys in the clubhouse, on the field. Obviously, there is a little bit of a language barrier, but that hasn’t stopped him from building relationships with the guys.’’</p>",
  "title": "Mune and Malort? Chicago is White Sox star Munetaka Murakami's kind of town",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-06T02:00:33.313Z"
}