GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chicago White Sox are preparing to welcome one of their biggest hitters back to camp.
Slugger Munetaka Murakami is scheduled to return to the team after Japan was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, falling to Venezuela in the quarterfinal round in Miami. The infielder was expected to arrive back in Arizona on Sunday.
Murakami had a modest but productive run in the tournament. Over five games, he went 4-for-19 with one home run and five RBIs, highlighted by a grand slam against the Czech Republic during pool play.
White Sox manager Will Venable said the team will evaluate Murakami once he returns before deciding when he’ll re-enter game action.
“He’ll be in camp tomorrow,” Venable said Sunday at Camelback Ranch. “But whether we see him in the game or not will depend on how he recovers from the flight. We just want to make sure he’s in a good spot before we put him back out there.”
Murakami’s return adds another layer of intrigue to a camp that has featured several key developments in recent days.
Mike Vasil Awaiting Updates After Elbow Scare
One of the more concerning updates came from pitcher Mike Vasil.
The right-hander exited Saturday’s Cactus League game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning after experiencing soreness in his right elbow. Vasil said he immediately knew something didn’t feel right.
“Any time with an elbow you just want to be precautionary, especially this time of year,” Vasil said. “If something’s not feeling right, you’ve got to speak up.”
Team doctors are reviewing scans and conducting additional tests to determine the next step.
Before leaving the game, Vasil had been pitching well. He allowed two hits and two walks while striking out three over 3⅔ scoreless innings.
The 25-year-old has been one of the more impressive arms in camp and has been competing for a spot in the starting rotation. Across four spring appearances, including two starts, he has posted a 1.64 ERA.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the injury, Venable praised Vasil’s attitude.
“Mike’s one of those guys that just stays really positive,” Venable said. “He’ll keep working and we’ll see what the evaluation tells us.”
Two Players Reassigned to Minor League Camp
The White Sox also made roster moves Sunday morning, sending outfielder Braden Montgomery and catcher Josh Breaux to minor league camp.
Venable emphasized that both players made strong impressions during their time in major league camp.
Breaux, in particular, earned praise for his work with the pitching staff and his defensive development behind the plate.
Montgomery — currently ranked as the White Sox’ top prospect by MLB.com — also stood out throughout camp.
The young outfielder went 8-for-23 (.348) with one home run and three RBIs across 12 Cactus League games. According to Venable, Montgomery’s athleticism and competitiveness were evident from the start.
“He certainly looks the part,” Venable said. “He has things he needs to work on, but he belongs on the field with big leaguers.”
The coaching staff noted that Montgomery’s right-handed swing is currently more advanced than his left-handed side, and there is still defensive refinement ahead. Still, the organization remains impressed with his progress and willingness to improve.
Following Sunday’s moves, 48 players remain in White Sox camp: 24 pitchers, four catchers, 10 infielders, and 10 outfielders.
Hagen Smith Flashes Strikeout Stuff
Another promising development came from pitching prospect Hagen Smith.
The highly regarded left-hander delivered a dominant outing Sunday against the Kansas City Royals in Surprise, Arizona. Smith struck out five of the seven batters he faced across two hitless innings.
In addition to the strikeouts, he issued one walk and induced a groundout.
Smith acknowledged that a few fastballs missed their intended location but said he felt strong overall during the appearance.
“Body felt good and I was happy with it,” Smith said.
The outing continued a spring that has shown encouraging signs. Smith has now recorded eight strikeouts with only one walk in 3⅔ innings, though two earned runs have pushed his ERA to 4.91.
Ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the White Sox system by MLB.com, Smith is continuing to refine his pitch mix as well.
During Sunday’s outing, he introduced a cutter into game action for the first time in a while — a pitch he said was inspired in part by watching fellow left-hander Anthony Kay.
“I’ve been wanting to throw a cutter,” Smith said. “It kind of lined up perfectly.”
A Busy Final Stretch of Camp
With Opening Day approaching, the White Sox are entering the final stretch of spring training where roster decisions and player evaluations become increasingly important.
Murakami’s return adds another major storyline to camp, while injuries, prospect performances, and roster cuts continue to shape the team’s plans.
For Chicago, the next few days could play a significant role in determining how the roster ultimately looks when the regular season begins.
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