With 17 home runs in 33 games and one run in 33 innings, this is why ML scouts are flocking, and the expected contract of 210 billion won

Sep 05, 2025

With 17 home runs in 33 games and one run in 33 innings, this is why ML scouts are flocking, and the expected contract of 210 billion won
Murakami, who was activated late, produces a home run. Murakimi hit his 16th and 17th home runs of the season against the Yomiuri Giants on the 4th. Photo capture = Yamurt Swallows SNS



With 17 home runs in 33 games and one run in 33 innings, this is why ML scouts are flocking, and the expected contract of 210 billion won
Murakami hit 17 home runs in 33 games after returning from injury. He showed a dreadful batting sense with seven home runs in the last six games. Photo capture = Yamurt Swallows SNS
With 17 home runs in 33 games and one run in 33 innings, this is why ML scouts are flocking, and the expected contract of 210 billion won
Yimai is a pitcher that Major League clubs are paying attention to. He pitched nine shutout innings against Rakuten on the 2nd. He pitched five complete games this season and earned three shutouts. Photo capture = Seibu Lions SNS
There are two Japanese players that Major League clubs are watching this season. They are Yakult Swallows' 'Monetaka Murakami (25) and Seibu Lions' right-hander Tatsuya Imai (27), who will compete in the major leagues after this year. He shows a terrifying presence in front of Major League scouts every game.

Murakami is the hottest hitter these days. In an away game against the Yomiuri Giants on the 4th, he hit a two-run home run and a grand slam to lead the team to a 12-1 victory. He hit his 16th home run of the season in his first at-bat in the first inning, and recorded his 17th superior grand slam of the season in the fourth inning with a 5-1 lead. Three hits, including two homers, and six RBIs. He showed phenomenal power and hitting ability in front of major league officials such as the New York Mets and San Diego Padres.

Murakami hit his first home run in his return game on July 29. He throws home runs as if he is trying to make up for a delayed start due to injury. He returned from injury and hit '17 home runs'33 games'




He has hit '7 home runs' in the last six games. The Hiroshima Carp match on August 30th. He hit a home run that hit the back screen of Tokyo Meiji Jingu Stadium, Yakult's home ground, three times. It is a powerful force worthy of the modifier 'monster hitter'. High-ranking officials from the Major League club in this game also watched from the scene.

I had a very hard time in 2025, ahead of a new challenge. He made his first appearance on April 17 due to an injury, which was another injury. I came back from rehabilitation for more than three months. Since then, he has continued his formidable performance. He played in 34 games and posted a batting average of 0.307-17 homers and 32 RBIs. The only hitter in the Central League that reported his first home run at the end of July is '3rd place'.

The Hanshin Tigers' Teruaki Sato (26) and Shota Morishita (25) led the home run race while Murakami was away. The two of them will run first or second place. Sato hit 36 in 121 games and Morisita hit 20 in 123 games.




With 17 home runs in 33 games and one run in 33 innings, this is why ML scouts are flocking, and the expected contract of 210 billion won
Murakami struggled with injuries this season ahead of his major league challenge. I played in my first game of the season on April 17, and I was injured in this game and had to rehabilitate for more than three months. Photo capture = Yamurt Swallows SNS
If he maintains his current hitting sense in the remaining 25 games, he will be able to aim for more than 20 home runs and up to 30. Murakami had more than 20 home runs for six consecutive years until last year. During this period, he hit 30 home runs five times and hit 56 in 2022. He has a total of 241 home runs.

Imai, who made his 20th start of the season against the Rakuten Eagles at Rakuten Mobile Park in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture on the 2nd, won nine shutout innings with 100 pitches. He gave up two hits without four outs and struck out 10. Following the game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on August 23, he pitched nine shutout innings in two consecutive games. More than 20 Major League scouts were checking on him.

Imai pitched nine shutout innings '17 strikeouts' in the interleague against the Yokohama BayStars on June 17. Daisuke Matsuzaka, the legendary "Monster Pitcher", broke the record for the most strikeouts by Seibu pitchers, exceeding the 16 recorded in 2004.




In 20 games, he pitched 9-5 with an ERA of 1.50. He pitched five times and pitched three shutouts. He struck out 159 in 143 ⅔ innings. 0.170. WHIP (On-base Allowance Per Inning) 0.85. It is an overwhelming stat. Major League officials predict that if Imai comes to the market this winter, the contract will reach 150 million dollars (about 21 million won).

The big league challenge will be a huge motivation. Imai has allowed one run (one earned) in 33 innings in the last four games.
With 17 home runs in 33 games and one run in 33 innings, this is why ML scouts are flocking, and the expected contract of 210 billion won
Imai has been the starting pitcher for the second consecutive year and is looking at double-digit wins for the third consecutive year. As of the 4th, he ranks second in the Pacific League's ERA and strikeouts, Photo Capture = Seibu Lions SNS
Imai, who started, is on the verge of double-digit wins for the third consecutive year. He has a career-high 57 wins.

Last winter, Loki Sashiki (LA Dodgers), Tomoyuki Sugano (Baltimore Orioles), and Shinnosuke Ogasawara (Washington Nationals) crossed into the United States. The spotlight is likely to pour on Murakami and Imai this winter.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.