Murakami hits 4 HR in first 8 games, besting Ohtani's record

Murakami launched a homer in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays to secure the record. At 26 years old, he now joins an exclusive club of players with three home runs in their first three games, though he trails Cleveland's Chase DeLauter in total count early in the campaign.

Despite a .250 batting average, Murakami is showcasing elite power with a .679 slugging percentage. The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $34 million deal with Chicago in December after a historic 2022 season where he broke Sadaharu Oh's single-season home run record in Japan.