Munetaka Murakami is out front in the MLB home run race. The Chicago White Sox third baseman crushed his 13th of the season, a three-run shot that finished off a six-run frame and put him alone atop the leaderboard. It broke a tie with the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Astros’ Yordan Álvarez, and it powered an 8-2 win over the San Diego Padres. Chicago has now won four straight.

Murakami takes charge of the home run race

Home run No. 13 matters because it sets the pace for the league. Murakami has reached that mark in 113 at-bats, pairing power with patience for a .383 OBP. His slugging sits at .584 and his OPS is .967, a profile built to produce runs. It is doing exactly that in Chicago’s lineup.

Six-run spark that set the tone

The three-run blast capped a six-run inning, the kind of surge that flips a game early and never lets it get close. From there, the White Sox managed the scoreboard and closed out an 8-2 win against San Diego. It is the club’s fourth victory in a row and their most convincing this week.

Season snapshot

Through 2026 MLB Regular Season play, Murakami owns a .239 average with 27 hits and 23 runs scored. He has driven in 26, and 13 of his knocks have left the yard. Add in his lefty bat, righty throw, and steady work at third base, and the profile looks complete for a middle-of-the-order anchor.

What it means for Chicago

With Murakami leading MLB in home runs, pitchers must challenge the rest of the order more often. That helps carry momentum into the next series and keeps the win streak in play. Fans can track every plate appearance, live scores, and advanced splits on Sofascore, which updates MLB stats in real time.