Munetaka Murakami stepped onto the red carpet at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia on Tuesday and basically told everyone to stop it with the underdog narrative. The White Sox slugger, through a translator, made it clear that he and his teammates don’t see themselves as the plucky little team that could.
“We don’t really think we’re underdogs,” Murakami said. “We can prove it. We’re up there, and we just have to prove ourselves.”
That’s a pretty direct message for a guy who’s hitting .232 with 49 hits, 20 home runs and 42 RBIs. He also just competed in the Home Run Derby, cranking out nine homers in the first round before getting eliminated. So he’s not exactly backing down from the spotlight.
The White Sox sit in a tight race for first place in the AL Central with the Cleveland Guardians. That’s a huge step up from back-to-back last-place finishes. A lot of the credit goes to manager Will Venable, who has helped shift the culture in that clubhouse. The team is leaning on a young core, the bullpen has been solid, and they’re actually winning games at Guaranteed Rate Field.
But here’s the thing. The trade deadline is August 3, and the White Sox have some holes to fill. Their pitching staff, especially on the road, needs help. They’ve been good at home but shaky away from Chicago. If they want to prove Murakami right, they’ll need to add some arms.
This is a franchise that hasn’t had a real winning season since 2022, when they went 81-81 and finished third in the division. The last time they made the playoffs was 2021, after winning the division with a 93-69 record. They lost to the Houston Astros in the ALDS that year. So it’s been a minute since this team was seriously feared.
Murakami’s comments might catch the attention of other teams, especially those who assumed Chicago would fade. But the White Sox have already shown they’re not going anywhere. Whether they can sustain it through September is another question.
And that’s the thing about calling yourself not an underdog. You have to back it up.
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