White Sox’s Murakami named all-star, to compete in Home Run Derby

The All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are set to get a major influx of power.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetka Murakami was named an all-star replacement on Friday and confirmed that he would compete in Monday’s Home Run Derby (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).

Murakami, who returned to the White Sox lineup on Friday after a stint on the injured list, had been one of the most exciting stories in baseball to begin the season.

The 26-year-old Japanese slugger bashed 20 homers in his first 57 games while carrying a .938 OPS. His momentum was slowed, however, by a hamstring injury at the end of May.

Murakami will replace injured Minnesota Twins centre-fielder Byron Buxton on the American League roster for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia (7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).

As for the Derby, he rounds out the eight-player field, joining Junior Caminero, Ben Rice, Jac Caglianone, Willson Contreras, Bryce Harper, Jordan Walker and Kyle Schwarber.

A Japanese-born player has never won the Home Run Derby, and Frank Thomas is the only White Sox player to ever claim the crown, emerging victorious in the 1995 event.