Munetaka Murakami to Make MLB Leap After 2025 Season

Yakult Swallows' star slugger Munetaka Murakami has announced that the 2025 season will be his last in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB). According to Yahoo! Sports Japan, Murakami plans to transition to Major League Baseball (MLB), joining the ranks of Japanese talents who have made the move.

Murakami, 24, grabbed global attention in 2022 by breaking Sadaharu Oh's single-season home-run record for a Japanese-born player with 56 homers in 141 games. Although his following seasons did not reach the same heights, with OPS of .875 and .851, he remains a formidable player.

Unlike the current sensation Roki Sasaki, Murakami will not be classified as an international amateur free agent. This is because he will turn 25 in February and will have over six seasons in a recognized foreign professional league. As a result, he will be subject to the MLB posting system, through which the Swallows will receive a fee based on the contract he signs with an MLB team.

​Murakami’s impending move to MLB marks a significant step in his career, and fans will be watching closely to see where he lands and how he adapts to the major leagues.