What’s Behind His Power Surge? Munetaka Murakami’s “Lift From Below” Hitting Technique

Home run king in reach! evolved form in the majors

“Japanese sensation!”

The play-by-play announcer frequently calls it a “Japanese shock!”—referring to Munetaka Murakami (26), who joined the White Sox this season and is hitting home runs at a remarkable pace. On April 28 (Japan time) against the Angels, he already hit his 12th home run, putting him on pace for 67 over a full season! A home run king title is well within reach.

“At his time with Yakult, his swing was a downward motion, striking down on the ball to generate backspin in order to hit it farther. Since coming to the majors, he’s been lifting the ball from underneath. It’s a completely home-run-focused form. In MLB, batting average is not valued as highly. Home runs and OPS (on-base plus slugging) are the main metrics.”

This is according to Takashi Kawamura, professor at the University of Tsukuba’s College of Physical Education and a specialist in motion analysis. Let’s look at Murakami’s evolution through sequential swing photos with his commentary.

“At the start, many MLB players lower their bodies to store power. That comes from strong hip use. Japanese players, who generally don’t have that level of hip strength, tend to start more naturally—like Murakami in image ①, with an upright back and balanced weight on both feet. Because his stance has no quirks, he can adjust to any pitch.”

The differences from his Yakult days appear from step ②.

“In Japan, he lifted his right leg a bit higher. Now the leg lift is smaller. This is likely to reduce the time between load and release, to adapt to MLB pitching.”

The most significant change is in the movements of (3) and (4).

The biggest change appears in movements ③–④.

“In ③, his left shoulder drops. In Japan, his shoulders were almost level with the ground, but now there is a tilt. By intentionally lowering the left shoulder, the swing becomes less horizontal and more downward-then-upward. The form doesn’t collapse because he firmly plants his right foot and creates a wall.
In ④, he uses that wall to swing the bat back upward after the dip. From ③ to ④, the swing forms a V-shaped path, allowing him to scoop the ball from below. This is a form that helps drive the ball far.”

The new batting style produces an ideal launch angle of about 30 degrees for long-distance hitting.

“By the finish in ⑤, the swing speed does not slow down, and the follow-through is large. A straight line is formed from the shoulder to the right foot, showing that the force of the whole body is efficiently transferred to the ball.
Murakami, a former Triple Crown winner in Japan, did not produce expected results in his final two years with Yakult. He was likely experimenting with this scooping upward swing in preparation for a move to MLB. Now that he is playing in the United States, the form seems to have stabilized.”

If he avoids injury, what kind of numbers could he put up in his first MLB season?

“With a swing that has significant body movement, a high batting average is unlikely. However, he can hit plenty of home runs. I think .230 with 40 home runs and 100 RBIs is realistic.”

A historic MLB rookie-season home run title by a Japanese player—Murakami’s sensation! shows no signs of slowing down.

Related articles
Samurai MLB players special ①
Shohei Ohtani: growth and challenges revealed through statistical analysis