Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez, 35, who previously played for Nippon-Ham Fighters and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks from 2018 to 2021, has been impressive this season with a 4-1 record and 1.70 ERA over eight appearances. On May 12, he spoke about Chicago White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami, 26, who has drawn attention with 15 home runs—one behind Aaron Judge (Yankees) and Kyle Schwarber (Phillies).
“No surprise at all. I thought he would definitely play in MLB someday—five years ago,” Martinez recalled. He first faced Murakami during the 2021 interleague play while with SoftBank. In that game, Murakami went 2-for-3, including a first-inning single off a curveball. Their next encounter came in the gold medal game of the Tokyo Olympics that August. Martinez, starting for Team USA, allowed a go-ahead home run to the then-21-year-old Murakami, who drove a changeup into the center-field back screen.
“What stood out was his professional approach. Even though he was young, he understood the strike zone like a veteran, showing great maturity,” Martinez said. In 2021, Murakami hit 39 home runs and drove in 112 runs, leading the Yakult Swallows to a Japan Series championship. Martinez believed even then that Murakami had the talent to succeed in the majors.
“He doesn’t change his approach even after falling behind 0-2. That’s the most troublesome type for a pitcher. In a way, you could call it ‘stubborn.’ A hitter who can replicate a consistent approach knows who he is and never wavers in his strike zone. Even when he’s behind, he doesn’t chase outside the zone, and he’s extremely tough against off-speed pitches,” Martinez added.
Martinez returned to MLB in 2022, pitching for the Padres and Reds before signing a one-year, $13 million deal with the Rays this season. He has started eight games, with four quality starts, solidifying his spot in the rotation.
“This year, I’ve been focusing on throwing first-pitch strikes. I noticed last year that when I couldn’t get ahead 0-1, hitters’ chase rates dropped. It’s easier said than done. It requires a strong mentality to challenge hitters. I’ve been aggressive from the start this season while also avoiding trying to be too perfect on the first pitch. That balance is working well,” Martinez explained.
Martinez did not face the White Sox during their April series. The Rays will host Chicago for a three-game set starting July 31, and the veteran right-hander, with 83 career wins between Japan and the U.S., is looking forward to a potential rematch with the highly touted rookie after five years.
