Home run history was made on Monday.
No, not Aaron Judge. At least not yet.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows star Munetaka Murakami slugged his 56th home run of the season in Nippon Professional Baseball. The solo-shot broke the legendary Sadaharu Oh’s record for most home runs hit in a single season in the league by a Japanese-born player, set in 1964. It also moved Murakami into second place for the overall single-season record of 60, set in 2013 by Wladimir Balentien.
And he did it just in time.
It was the Swallows’ season finale, after Murakami had gone 20 days and 13 games without a home run. He hit the record-tying homer on September 13, and then threatened to end the season tied.
Munetaka Murakami hits his 56th home run of the season. Screengrab (2)A third baseman, Murakami won league’s MVP in 2021 and followed it with an even better season this year, slashing .317/.457/.706 with a 1.163 OPS and 132 RBIs in addition to his 56 homers.
Oh holds the world lifetime home run record, having hit 868 long balls throughout his professional career.
