PHILADELPHIA - Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami fell just short of the MLB Home Run Derby semifinals Monday after crushing nine long bombs in the first round at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park.
St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker clinched the trophy after outgunning the local favorite, Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, in the final on the eve of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game.
Murakami, who returned to MLB action Friday after missing 35 games with a hamstring strain, became the second Japanese-born player to contest the Home Run Derby, following Shohei Ohtani in 2021.
The 26-year-old left-handed hitter started slowly but found his groove as the round progressed. He averaged 421 feet on his nine homers, topping out at 466 feet, according to MLB.com.
Walker and Boston Red Sox star Willson Contreras topped the first round with 13 apiece, while Schwarber secured the last semifinal berth in fourth place with 10.
Murakami is set to make his All-Star Game debut off the bench for the American League.
Overall top vote-getter Ohtani and Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto were selected for the National League but will not play in the Midsummer Classic.
Ohtani will sit out while treating nagging knee irritation, while Yamamoto will avoid taking the mound in Philadelphia due to the timing of his next start for the back-to-back World Series champions.
