When you think of raw power at the plate, Munetaka Murakami should be near the top of the list. This 25-year-old Japanese slugger’s set the baseball world on fire since his 2022 breakout, where he blasted 56 home runs in a single season. The big question now is: who’s going to take a chance on him in the majors?

Per ESPN, the projected deal for him is $80M or more, and here’s why it’s possible. Murakami is eligible for MLB’s posting system, having narrowly missed last winter’s deadline. His raw numbers scream potential: His exit velocity stats would rank among the top in the MLB, including a max exit velo that would’ve placed him 12th overall.

But it’s not all perfect.

Murakami’s contact rate is a concern, though, and so is his defense. Some scouts see a potential for growth if he tweak

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