Extra Innings by Joe Boesch

Christmas came early for the Chicago White Sox, as they've signed Japanese star Munetaka Murakami. With his signing comes a Topps Now card and a brief synopsis of his baseball career. Here's the wording from the back of his Topps Now card: Japanese star Munetaka Murakami is taking his slugging prowess to Chicago, inking a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox. The two-time NPB MVP heads to MLB with 246 homers, 647 RBI, a .270 batting average, and .557 slugging percentage across eight seasons in Japan. Murakami showed off his true power in 2022, crushing 56 longballs to set the NPB single-season mark. Until then, Merry Christmas, and see you at the park. — Joe Boesch 

This is a special time of year a time to be with family and the people that are very close to your heart. This is also the time to think that baseball is just around the corner. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Before we know it, Spring Training will be upon us. Until then, see ya at the park! — Joe Boesch