Murakami and DeLauter Join Elite Club with Homers in First Three Career Games

Munetaka Murakami and Chase DeLauter have become just the third and fourth players in MLB history to homer in each of their first three major league games.

Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox and Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians have matched a rare feat by homering in each of their first three major league games. This milestone, achieved within the last week, has occurred only twice before in Major League Baseball history, previously accomplished by Trevor Story for the Colorado Rockies in 2016 and Kyle Lewis for the Seattle Mariners in 2019. Murakami joined the group during the White Sox's 9-7 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, while DeLauter secured his place by hitting four home runs across his first three contests. Story currently maintains the rookie home run record by going deep in his first four career games, a mark DeLauter looks to equal during Cleveland's matchup in Seattle on Sunday evening.

During the second inning of Sunday's game at Milwaukee, the 26-year-old Murakami drove a 3-2 pitch from Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat over the right-center wall into the Chicago bullpen. This followed a Thursday debut where the Japanese slugger homered off Jake Woodford in the ninth inning and a Saturday performance featuring a home run against Chad Patrick in the fourth. Despite the personal milestone, the White Sox surrendered a 7-2 lead in their eventual 9-7 defeat. Murakami finished Sunday's game with three strikeouts but has maintained a .538 on-base percentage through his first three appearances, aided by four walks.

DeLauter’s Historic Power Display in Cleveland

Chase DeLauter, 24, has produced four home runs in his first three games for the Guardians. His debut on Thursday included two home runs, making him the fifth player in the 126-year history of the Cleveland franchise to homer in his first career regular-season at-bat. On Friday, the outfielder added a solo shot against Seattle starter George Kirby. His most recent blast occurred Saturday in the 10th inning of a 6-5 victory, where he hit a two-run home run off Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. This game-winning hit followed a difficult stretch in the game where DeLauter had previously struck out three times.

Cleveland selected DeLauter out of James Madison University with the 16th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Although he appeared on the Guardians' wild-card roster during the 2025 postseason—going 1-for-6 in a 2-1 series loss to the Detroit Tigers—these three games constitute his first regular-season action. He earned a spot on the opening-day roster after a dominant spring training where he hit .459 with three home runs and a .535 on-base percentage over 14 games. Manager Stephen Vogt noted that hitting an opposite-field home run in the cold night air of Seattle against an elite closer demonstrated significant maturity.

Murakami’s Transition from the Yakult Swallows

Before signing a two-year, $34 million contract with Chicago in December, Murakami spent eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows in Japan’s Central League. He tallied 246 home runs during his tenure in Japan, highlighted by a 56-homer campaign in 2022. While his power was well-documented, scouts noted his 977 strikeouts in 3,780 plate appearances as a potential area of concern for his transition to the American major leagues. White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay, who spent the last two seasons playing in Japan, stated he was not surprised by the transition of Murakami's power to the MLB level.

White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery praised Murakami’s daily preparation and work ethic, noting that the rookie never skips steps in his craft. Murakami himself acknowledged the need for continued growth through interpreter Kenzo Yagi, stating he is grateful for the milestone but recognizes he has a long way to go to improve. The White Sox are seeking stability after enduring three consecutive seasons with over 100 losses. Prior to Sunday’s two-run loss, the team had been outscored 20-3 across their first two games of the current season.

Statistical Impact and Historical Context

The rarity of this rookie home run record is underscored by the fact that only four players have ever achieved it. While Murakami and DeLauter have secured homers in three straight games to start their careers, Trevor Story remains the sole record holder for a four-game streak. DeLauter’s four home runs in three games actually outpaces the total home run count of Murakami, Story, and Lewis at the same juncture of their debuts.

Pat Murphy, manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, described Murakami as impressive, remarking that the stadium did not seem large enough to contain him. For the Guardians, DeLauter’s early production validates his status as a top prospect who battled injuries throughout the 2025 minor league season. As both rookies continue their inaugural campaigns, they represent a significant shift in offensive potential for their respective clubs, with Murakami providing a high on-base presence for Chicago and DeLauter offering late-inning power for Cleveland.