Munetaka Murakami begins rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte, giving White Sox a path back before the All-Star break

The Chicago White Sox will get a major look at how quickly rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami can return to form after injury. Murakami is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte, the final step in the process before he can rejoin the White Sox lineup, according to reports published Monday.

Murakami has been sidelined with a right hamstring injury. The injury dates back to late May, when he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on May 29 while trying to beat out a double-play ground ball against Detroit, as described in coverage of the move to begin rehab.

For the White Sox, the timeline matters because the All-Star break is the near-term checkpoint for player availability in the middle of the season. Multiple reports indicate Murakami’s rehab stint is expected to be the bridge that determines whether he can return to Chicago before the break, contingent on how he responds once he returns to full baseball activity in a game environment.

Manager Will Venable was also cited in the coverage, noting that Murakami had been traveling with the team and monitoring from the dugout. With the team’s recent play as the backdrop, he is expected to leave to play with the Knights after being present during a win over Cleveland, per the reporting.

Murakami’s impact has been substantial in his first season with Chicago. He entered the rehab conversation batting.240 with 20 home runs, 43 runs and 41 RBIs, a profile that underscores why the White Sox are treating this return as more than a routine roster adjustment. His power production has been central to Chicago’s ability to stay competitive in the American League Central while he has been unavailable.

The move to Triple-A Charlotte also reflects how teams typically manage hamstring recoveries, with game reps used to test stride, acceleration and overall workload before rejoining the major league lineup. While rehabs can vary in length, the reports frame this as a decisive stage, with the White Sox preparing for the possibility of adding their cornerstone bat back into the everyday mix soon.

If Murakami does return before the All-Star break, Chicago would be adding a right-handed slugger with established production to its lineup at a time when teams are making late first-half evaluations for the roster shape ahead of the second season. The next thing to watch is how he handles his first few rehab games, and whether the White Sox can translate those reps into a smooth, repeatable major league role.