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Munetaka Murakami Joins Home Run Derby Field
Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami will be the final entrant in this year's Home Run Derby, which will take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, according to MLB. Murakami just returned from the injured list after missing over six weeks with a hamstring strain in Friday's win over the Athletics and went 1-for-5 at the plate with an RBI double, a run scored, and four strikeouts. The 26-year-old Japanese native took the league by storm earlier this season before his injury in his first year in the States, and he's currently hitting .239/.375/.556 with a .931 OPS, 20 home runs, 42 RBI, 44 runs scored, and a stolen base across 58 games played and 251 plate appearances. Murakami should remain high up in Chicago's batting order going into the second half of the season. He's displayed plenty of power potential, but he also has a 33.5% strikeout rate and can go cold for stretches. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues may want to consider selling high before we even get to the second half. Murakami holds a .218 xBA and a .373 xwOBA (wOBA of .392), so regression is expected.
Source: MLB
Source: MLB
White Sox Officially Reinstate Munetaka Murakami From Injured List
The Chicago White Sox officially announced on Friday that they reinstated corner infielder Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and optioned rookie infielder Jacob Gonzalez to Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. The White Sox haven't released their starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics and left-hander Jacob Lopez, but Murakami should be back in the starting nine. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger will be returning from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that he suffered on May 29, which caused him to miss 35 games. Before his injury, the Japanese native hit .240/.378/.560 with a .938 OPS, 20 long balls, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored, and a stolen base in his 200 at-bats for the Pale Hose. Murakami went 2-for-7 with an RBI during his two minor-league rehab games with Charlotte. Fantasy managers will want to return him to their starting lineups immediately, and hopefully he can pick up where he left off as one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball to close out the first half of the 2026 season.
Source: Chicago White Sox
Source: Chicago White Sox
Munetaka Murakami Could Return on Friday
Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami (hamstring), who has been on the 10-day injured list since suffering a Grade 2 strained right hamstring on May 29, could return to the White Sox's starting lineup as soon as Friday for the series opener against the Athletics, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Murakami got three at-bats and played five innings at first base for Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday night and received positive reports. The 26-year-old Japanese native took the league by storm earlier this year in his first taste of major-league pitching, hitting .240 (48-for-200) with 20 home runs, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored, and a stolen base in 57 games and 246 plate appearances. "He means a lot for this lineup. He's a great hitter. Not just for the lineup but the clubhouse in general. He's a great leader. He's a guy who everyone here looks to. It means a lot to everyone here," third baseman Miguel Vargas said. In his two rehab games with the Knights, Murakami has gone 2-for-7 with a double and a walk. His impending return could cause rookie first baseman Jacob Gonzalez to be shipped back to Charlotte.
Source: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
Source: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
Chase Meidroth Still an Infield Target Off the Waiver Wire?
Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth had a strong month of June, putting himself on the map for a waiver-wire pickup in deeper mixed leagues for fantasy managers in search of infield depth. In 25 games last month, Meidroth went 27-for-94 (.287) with a homer, four doubles, nine RBI, and 14 runs scored across 106 plate appearances to boost his season line to .268/.339/.378 with a .717 OPS. So far in five games in July, he's gone 3-for-19 (.158) with a homer, two RBI, a run scored, one walk, and three strikeouts. The former fourth-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2022 out of the University of San Diego made his big-league debut last year with the White Sox and hit .253/.329/.320 with a .649 OPS, five homers, 23 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 122 games played. Meidroth is striking out at a higher 23.9% clip (compared to 14.3% last year), and he's also not running as much when he gets on base. He might be worth a look as a short-term waiver-wire option when he's hot, but Meidroth's xBA of .229 and xwOBA of .285 point to plenty of regression coming in the second half.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Sam Antonacci a Must-Add, Multi-Category Contributor
Chicago White Sox rookie infielder/outfielder Sam Antonacci has made an immediate impact in fantasy baseball in his first year in the big leagues in multiple categories, and he should be rostered in more than 53% of Yahoo leagues. Through his first 67 games and 271 plate appearances, Antonacci is slashing .299/.394/.433 with an .827 OPS, five home runs, 12 doubles, two triples, 24 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored for Chicago. The 23-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2024 out of Coastal Carolina University is one of many reasons the Pale Hose have had a huge turnaround in 2026. Since the start of June, Antonacci has been heating up, too, going 31-for-93 (.333) with four home runs, seven doubles, 11 RBI, 22 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 25 games across 109 plate appearances. His underlying metrics support his strong start in his first year in the big leagues, too, as he currently has an xBA of .301 and an xwOBA of .372 (wOBA of .370). Antonacci can help make your fantasy team better in a variety of ways, and he's eligible at second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Munetaka Murakami "Day-to-Day," No Timetable for a Rehab Assignment
Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) is on the road trip with the team and is considered "day-to-day," but there is no timetable for him to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Will Venable. Murakami landed on the 10-day injured list on May 30 with a strained right hamstring, and with no rehab assignment on the horizon, fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect him to return before the mid-July All-Star break. He's making progress, though, with Venable saying last week that Murakami was sprinting around "85 percent" intensity. In his first year in the States, the 26-year-old left-handed slugger has been a major value for fantasy managers, clubbing 20 home runs, driving in 41 runs, and scoring 43 bases in 200 at-bats while slashing .240/.378/.560 with a .938 OPS. Until he's able to return, Jacob Gonzalez should continue to see most of the playing time at first base for the Pale Hose.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Chase Meidroth Heating Up, Becoming Infield Waiver Target?
Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth is quietly hitting .276 (83-for-301) in his second year in the major leagues for a resurgent White Sox club in 2026. Meidroth hit .253/.329/.320 with only five home runs, 23 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 122 games (505 plate appearances) in 2025 in his rookie season. He's only stolen two bases in his 80 games so far in 2026, but the 24-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2022 out of the University of San Diego already has a career-high six homers in 339 plate appearances. In 23 games and 97 plate appearances in June, Meidroth has gone 26-for-89 (.292) with a homer, three doubles, nine RBI, and 11 runs scored. The problem with adding Meidroth off the waiver is that he currently has an elevated 24.8% strikeout rate (up from 14.3% last year), and his walk rate is nearly identical to what it was last year at 8.6%. His xBA of .227 and xwOBA of .282 point to serious regression since he's not making nearly as much contact as he did in 2025. Meidroth might be in play as a short-term middle-infield boost while he's hot, but his underlying metrics say that it's not going to last. He's rostered in only 30% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Miguel Vargas Collects Three Hits, Homer, Five RBI Against Royals
The Chicago White Sox bats were red-hot on Friday night in the 22-1 rout over the division-rival Kansas City Royals, and corner infielder Miguel Vargas was right in the center of the action. Vargas finished the night 3-for-6 at the plate with a home run, a double, five RBI, two runs scored, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .246 and his OPS to .841. Vargas was just a triple short of the cycle, and it continued a hot stretch for the 26-year-old Cuban. He is now carrying a modest four-game hitting streak in which he has gone 7-for-18 with three extra-base hits and seven RBI. In his second full season with the White Sox, Vargas is now slashing .246/.357/.484 with a career-high 18 long balls, 50 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases in 343 plate appearances. His breakout season in his fifth year in the big leagues for the surprising ChiSox is the reason why he's now rostered in over 90% of Yahoo leagues. Vargas came into Friday's series opener against KC with a .263 average (20-for-76) with four homers, three doubles, 11 RBI, 10 runs, and a steal in 20 games played.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Colson Montgomery Continues to Display Power, Homers Twice on Wednesday
Chicago White Sox infielder Colson Montgomery came into Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees in the Bronx hitting just .221 (55-for-249) through his first 68 games of his first full year in the big leagues. Montgomery also entered the day with 17 home runs after hitting 21 in 71 games as a rookie in 2025, and he continued to flex his muscles at the plate by going 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in the 10-5 loss on the road. Both of his round-trippers were of the solo variety for his first career multi-home run game. Montgomery is now hitting .225/.319/.502 with 19 home runs, 13 doubles, 44 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 288 plate appearances. Of his seven hits so far in June, six of them have gone for extra bases. The 24-year-old former 22nd overall pick in 2021 doesn't make all that much contact and hasn't been an asset for his on-base percentage, but he has plenty of power to spare and now ranks ninth in baseball with his 19 home runs.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Colson Montgomery Dealing With Back Tightness
Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that infielder Colson Montgomery (back) is getting an extra day off on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves to recover from some back tightness that he's been dealing with, according to James Fegan of Sox Machine. Luisangel Acuna made the start at the 6 for the Pale Hose on Tuesday and was hitting in the eight-hole against Braves right-hander Grant Holmes. Fantasy managers should consider Montgomery to be day-to-day for now and check back on Wednesday to see if he's feeling good enough to return to action. The 24-year-old former 22nd overall pick in 2021 out of a high school in Indiana is hitting just .225 (53-for-236) in his first full season in the majors, but he has provided fantasy managers with plenty of power with 16 home runs, 12 doubles, 38 RBI, and 31 runs scored across his first 64 games and 270 plate appearances in 2026. He's rostered in 90% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Sox Machine - James Fegan
Source: Sox Machine - James Fegan
Munetaka Murakami to Miss 4-6 Weeks With Grade 2 Hamstring Strain
It was announced on Saturday that Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The hard-hitting rookie injured himself while running to first base on a ground ball and was immediately removed from the game. This is a crushing blow to the surging White Sox, who will miss his presence in the lineup. The 26-year-old has hit 20 home runs in his first 57 games and has been a spark for the team all season. In his absence, the White Sox's long-term plan could be to move Miguel Vargas to first base and have Colson Montgomery slide over to third base to replace him. With those moves appearing in Saturday's lineup, it seems like a feasible strategy, given that both players have experience at those positions.
Source: Scott Merkin
Source: Scott Merkin
Jacob Gonzalez a Must-Stash Power Bat in Fantasy Baseball
Chicago White Sox shortstop prospect Jacob Gonzalez has been one of the top power hitters in the minor leagues this season, and he's a must-stash player in fantasy baseball as he gets closer to making his MLB debut. Through 51 games this year, the 2023 first-round pick is slashing .308/.414/.646 with 18 home runs, seven steals, a 14.1% walk rate, a 20.5% strikeout rate, and 162 wRC+. While that strikeout rate is a little higher than we'd like to see against Triple-A pitching, it's a fair trade-off when you consider that he's homering once in every 13 plate appearances. The advanced metrics are terrific, too, as Gonzalez owns a 113.6 mph maximum exit velocity (95th percentile), a 12.5% barrel rate (87th percentile), and a 22.6% wiff rate (71st percentile). This is a very advanced profile, and we expect Gonzalez to have a relatively seamless transition to the majors once he does get the call. He projects as a big power bat in the majors, while also offering solid speed and defensive versatility at all four infield positions.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacob Gonzalez Emerging as Top Stash Target with Five-Category Upside
Chicago White Sox infield prospect Jacob Gonzalez has enjoyed a dominant start to the Triple-A regular season and is emerging as a top stash target among infield prospects. Gonzalez currently sits as the No. 24-ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com but has performed at a borderline elite level despite his lower prospect pedigree. Through 49 games in Charlotte this season, Gonzalez has posted a .294/.406/.594 slash line with a 1.000 OPS. During this stint, Gonzalez has tallied nine doubles, 15 home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 47:33 K:BB. This is a stark improvement compared to the .204/.310/.293 line he led his first 43 games at Triple-A during the 2025 campaign. While there is no clear opening for Gonzalez on the MLB roster at the moment, he is emerging as a top stash candidate given his five-category potential.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Curtis Mead Records First Career Multi-Homer Game in Win Over Guardians
Washington Nationals infielder Curtis Mead had a career night on Monday in the team's 10-2 win over the hosting Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout. It was Mead's first career multi-home run in his fourth year in the big leagues. The 25-year-old Australian came into Monday's series opener in Cleveland with a .234/.351/.441 slash line, .793 OPS, only five home runs, 17 RBI, 20 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 39 games across 131 plate appearances in his first year with the Nats. Mead is hitting a very modest .241/.353/.491 on the season with seven home runs now, but he has been displaying more power of late, going deep three times in the last three games. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Mead to keep it up, as he never had more than three round-trippers in a single season before 2026. He's primarily useful in NL-only leagues, mainly for his eligibility at first, second, and third base. Mead is rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Sam Antonacci Still Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup for his Speed
Chicago White Sox rookie outfielder Sam Antonacci has cooled off a bit recently at the plate, but fantasy managers targeting speed should still be considering acquiring him off the waiver wire. The 23-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has hit .233 (7-for-30) with an RBI, two stolen bases, six runs scored, three walks, and seven strikeouts in nine games since May 15, but he still holds a strong .300/.395/.357 slash line with a .752 OPS, four doubles, four RBI, five stolen bases, and 15 runs scored in 21 contests in May. Antonacci, a former fifth-round selection in 2024 out of Coastal Carolina, has only one home run and won't provide much pop for fantasy managers, but he has held his own in his first 35 big-league games in 2026. He's hitting .273 (30-for-110) with a homer, five doubles, two triples, 10 RBI, five steals, and 20 runs scored across his 132 plate appearances. Making him even more attractive in deeper leagues is the fact that he's eligible at second and third base, in addition to the outfield. He's also widely available in Yahoo leagues, as he's currently rostered in just 16% of leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
