As Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly settles into the place he feels most at home, Chicago White Sox newcomer Munetaka Murakami is finding an immediate fit in his South Side neighborhood.
The two will meet when Kelly (1-0, 3.38 ERA) faces right-hander Sean Burke (0-2, 4.43) in the first game of a three-game series Tuesday in Phoenix.
Murakami has made quite a splash since signing a two-year, $34 million free-agent contract in the offseason following eight years with the Yakult Swallows of the Japan Central League.
The rookie first baseman hit three homers a three-game set against the Athletics, including one of Chicago’s four dingers in a 7-4 victory Sunday to give the team just its second series win of the season.
Murakami has eight homers, more than any Japanese-born player through his first 22 games, making his deal look like a bargain thus far.
“Guy’s got stupid juice,” White Sox right-hander Davis Martin told reporters.
Martin was speaking after Murakami’s clinching grand slam in a 9-2 win Friday, a ball that cleared the batter’s eye at Sutter Health Park and was estimated at 431 feet.
“I got more than 431,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “I don’t know who is doing that calculation, but that ball was touched right there.”
Murakami’s homer Sunday was estimated at 425 feet.
“I just love having all the points come up from all the lineup and everybody contributing to the team,” Murakami said.
Kelly will make his first home start of the season after snubbing a more lucrative offer from San Diego in his first taste of free agency over the winter. He received a prolonged ovation when he was introduced before the D-Bbacks’ home opener March 30, although he was on the injured list and could not play.
“I’ve been here my whole big-league career, and that means something to me,” said Kelly, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason. The Padres offered three years for $60 million.
“I’m grateful to the organization for having that much faith in me. Not only the guys in the clubhouse that I enjoy being around, but also the team on the field. I felt like it was a very competitive team.”
The Diamondbacks have won 10 of 14 and have not lost a series since being swept at the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the season.
The White Sox had lost 8 of 10 before taking two of three against the A’s.
Kelly missed the first three weeks of the season with an intercostal nerve irritation before returning in a 4-3 victory at Baltimore last Tuesday. He gave up two runs and five hits, with three strikeouts and four walks.
His takeaway?
“That we won. That’s the first and foremost goal,” said Kelly, who pitched five scoreless innings in his one rehab start for Triple-A Reno. “It’s always nice to come back and get that first one out of the way.
“The health stuff, I think, is in the rear-view mirror. But there were definitely some butterflies. I think my brain knows I’m going into a big-league game with something that matters. The speed is definitely different for sure.”
Kelly is 2-1 in three career starts against the White Sox, the last a 9-3 victory in West Sacramento last season after he had been sent to Texas prior to the trade deadline.
Burke beat the D-Backs 7-3 last season, his only appearance against them. He did not allow an earned run in five innings.
–Field Level Media
