Munetaka Murakami Is Bringing Hope Back to the Chicago White Sox

April is about to say goodbye as we move into May, and the first month of the 2026 MLB season has already been one to remember.

In the AL Central, it is still anyone’s game, as no team has a record above .500 heading into the second month of the marathon campaign.

Here’s the best and worst from April in the AL Central.

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Biggest Story: Munetaka Murakami Is Awesome

Will Murakami keep up his current pace of smashing home runs and hit over 60 as a rookie?

It’s unlikely, but it would be great if he could.

Murakami, a few years ago, was looked upon as one of the best Japanese prospects of all time, but following a few injury-plagued seasons and fears he might not be able to hit the extra velocity in the MLB, teams passed on giving him a long-term contract.

He gambled on himself by taking a two-year contract with the White Sox, and now could be looking at a nine-digit contract if he reaches free agency in 2028.

But if you’re a White Sox fan, why let the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees get him? Murakami could be a true superstar in this league. Letting him go without putting every effort into getting him extended would be considered an embarrassment.

The AL Central MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals)

It’s a boring answer, but it’s the correct answer, even with Murakami’s explosion.

Witt Jr. is one of the top-five players in all of baseball, and even though the Royals look bland and lifeless, he’s still putting up MVP numbers.

The Winner of the AL East Will Be: Cleveland Guardians

It’s essentially a question between the Guardians and Detroit Tigers, and for right now, I’ll stick with Cleveland.

It’s a story of two teams with middling offenses and strong arms. While Detroit has the best pitcher in Tarik Skubal, I overall have more confidence in Cleveland’s lineup when it comes to finding some consistent offense.

Plus, there’s always the chance that the Tigers pull the trigger on a Tarik Skubal trade at the deadline.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 5:59 PM.