The Los Angeles Dodgers have a long history of great international players from all over the world. Now, with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, they are becoming the face of Japanese baseball in the MLB.
The team is set to kick off the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs in just over 10 Days, which should grow their fan base even more. The link between the Dodgers and Japanese baseball is growing so strong that almost every top Japanese player set to enter the major leagues is immediately linked to the Dodgers as the favorite.
Munetaka Murakami is the next great Japanese player who is set to leave the NPB for the MLB. This will most likely be his final season as he sets his sights on joining the Majors in 2026. The Los Angeles Dodgers have already been named among the favorites to sign him.
Munetaka Murakami is already hitting home runs for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows as he plays in what's likely his final NPB season.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) March 5, 2025
The 25-year-old is aiming to make a jump to MLB in 2026.
The Dodgers have already been named among favorites to sign him 👀pic.twitter.com/k6CLoExDXA
Los Angeles Dodgers Among Favorites To Sign Munetaka Murakami
Murakami has been lighting up the NPB for years. He plays first and third base but is known for his bat and the power that comes with it.
Last season, for the Yakult Swallows, he finished with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs in 143 games. His best season came in 2022 when he belted an astonishing 56 home runs and 134 RBIs in 141 games. His 56 home runs broke the NPB record of most home runs by a Japanese-born player, previously held by the legendary Sadaharu Oh. He had an average of .318 in 2022, has a career batting average of .272, and has hit 241 home runs in seven seasons.
Also Read: Roki Sasaki Dazzles In Los Angeles Dodgers Debut
Murakami is just 25 years old and already a two-time Central League MVP, Triple Crown winner, and four-time All-Star in Japan. He also won the World Baseball Classic with Team Japan in 2023.
He will be one of the most sought-after international players in 2026, just as Roki Sasaki was. The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to fight off the competition this last off-season; will they be able to do the same in 2026? The usual suspects of the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs will all be players.
We are getting ahead of ourselves, but this new Japan-to-LA pipeline is becoming really special.