Yakult Takes Cautious Approach to Munetaka Murakami’s Return as Part of Long-Term Rebuild Strategy

Inexplicable Wait-and-See Mode

Due to upper body conditioning issues, Yakult Swallows infielder Munetaka Murakami (25) has been unable to produce the results expected of him and is currently undergoing adjustments with the farm team. He has finally returned to game action in a minor league match.

Meanwhile, the main squad has been plagued by a string of injuries, and as of July 2, the team lost its chance to win the championship on its own with the 70th game of the season.

“Even so, manager Shingo Takatsu (56) is somehow staying in a wait-and-see mode, saying, ‘We’ll bring Mune back only when he’s fully ready,’” said a puzzled former team member.

Although the season has just hit its halfway point, if nearly 70 remaining games are treated as meaningless, both fans and sponsors are unlikely to stay silent.

“There are even reports that Murakami himself is reluctant to return to the first team too soon. While he did return to action on July 8 in an Eastern League game, it seems he’ll continue to rehab with the farm team for a while. Perhaps both Takatsu and Murakami have written off this season” the same source added.

Behind this situation lies the team’s financial situation. During contract negotiations last offseason, the team agreed to allow Murakami to be posted for a transfer to Major League Baseball.

“The organization is strongly aiming to transfer Murakami to the MLB via posting this offseason. Some former players are outraged, asking, ‘Why would you let go of your franchise slugger instead of trying to keep him?’ But the truth is, the team needs a large posting fee to rebuild.”

Murakami’s camp has already built connections with several MLB teams and has been researching the likely terms and contract amounts. While there is concern that his value could drop due to injury, they reportedly view this season as a preparation year and believe that as long as he’s in top condition by spring training next year, a significant drop in his market value can be avoided.

To preserve Murakami’s value, they must avoid any further injuries at all costs. That’s why the team management is being cautious about his return to the top squad. While Murakami may be torn between wanting to give fans one more stellar season before heading overseas, if the team is clearly leaning toward letting him go, it’s only natural that his own mindset would start leaning toward the MLB as well, explained a team official.

Yakult plans to use the large posting fee to strengthen its roster and rebuild for the future.

“Injuries aren’t the only reason for the team’s slump. The atmosphere is loose, and there’s a general air of resignation. Just having Murakami back won’t solve the problem.

We can’t rely forever on veterans like José Osuna (32) and Domingo Santana (32). A roster overhaul is necessary. While aiming for continued development of young players like Hideki Nagaoka (23) and Soma Uchiyama (23), the team also plans to fill gaps through trades and other means. The goal is to become the best in Japan within three to five years,” the official continued.

While fans would surely love to see Japan’s premier slugger play as many games as possible in what could be his final season, it may be necessary—for both the team and for Murakami himself—to prioritize caution and long-term preparation.