Munetaka Murakami Thread

[jjrpilot]

Mune to the MOON!

[ScooterD]

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[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

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Those golds are massive.

[jacksonjj]

Card investors dig the long ball

[Jed Clampett]

Cecil Fielder 1990 vibe 👍
Already 26
…… 1986 Topps card had a legendary 3 month run and then……



Nice to see a Sox player off to hot start

[Boredlawyer]

2021 Topps NPB/chrome has been such a wild ride.

2022: Seiya Suzuki is hottest player on the planet, Roki throws two perfect games in a row.

2023: Murakami is coming off greatest NPB season ever, Shunpeita Yamashita is the next Roki, Seiya is just a guy.

2024: Yamamoto comes to the US, Murakami actually isn't that great, Roki fever has faded, Yamashita is hurt.

2025: Yamamoto comes back to earth, Roki is hot again, Murakami stinks.

2026: Yamamoto is God, Roki stinks, Murakami is good again.

And then a few spikes along the way for Okamoto, Senga, Hiroto Takahashi, Tatsuya Imai. What a ride.

[BabaORiley]

Originally Posted by Boredlawyer

2021 Topps NPB/chrome has been such a wild ride.

2022: Seiya Suzuki is hottest player on the planet, Roki throws two perfect games in a row.

2023: Murakami is coming off greatest NPB season ever, Shunpeita Yamashita is the next Roki, Seiya is just a guy.

2024: Yamamoto comes to the US, Murakami actually isn't that great, Roki fever has faded, Yamashita is hurt.

2025: Yamamoto comes back to earth, Roki is hot again, Murakami stinks.

2026: Yamamoto is God, Roki stinks, Murakami is good again.

And then a few spikes along the way for Okamoto, Senga, Hiroto Takahashi, Tatsuya Imai. What a ride.

Imanaga and Yoshida moved some cardboard/chromium, as well.

When I think of 2021 Topps Chrome, my mind will always go to NPB before MLB.

It would probably take a 4HR game for Mune to approach peak Roki for base chrome prices.

[Boredlawyer]

Originally Posted by BabaORiley

Imanaga and Yoshida moved some cardboard/chromium, as well.

When I think of 2021 Topps Chrome, my mind will always go to NPB before MLB.

It would probably take a 4HR game for Mune to approach peak Roki for base chrome prices.

Yup. I forgot about them. I hit an orange Roki #'d 01/25 in base NPB the week after he threw the perfectos. Think it sold for ~$1300 in 2022? I remember selling a Seiya base chrome refractor for like $175 at the same time. I think Seiya and Roki were both $150+ for refractors for a very short time.

Looked and saw I paid $58 for a Murakami orange foil /25 (non chrome) in 11/2023. Ended up grading a PSA 10, but I think it still only sold for $300 or so. I assume that's probably a $1500+ card now. Granted, he could have just as easily Johjima'd (or even Roki'd). Can't complain. Was fun opening those.

[jjrpilot]

Originally Posted by Boredlawyer

2021 Topps NPB/chrome has been such a wild ride.

2022: Seiya Suzuki is hottest player on the planet, Roki throws two perfect games in a row.

2023: Murakami is coming off greatest NPB season ever, Shunpeita Yamashita is the next Roki, Seiya is just a guy.

2024: Yamamoto comes to the US, Murakami actually isn't that great, Roki fever has faded, Yamashita is hurt.

2025: Yamamoto comes back to earth, Roki is hot again, Murakami stinks.

2026: Yamamoto is God, Roki stinks, Murakami is good again.

And then a few spikes along the way for Okamoto, Senga, Hiroto Takahashi, Tatsuya Imai. What a ride.

Makes one truly appreciate the Japanese GOATS: Ichiro and Ohtani

[hammertime]

The ride isn't over yet! Itoh, Taira, the other Murakami, Miyagi, and both Takahashis may still make their way stateside in the next few years. I don't know if Livan Moinelo will ever defect but I'd love to see him in the MLB as well.

[Boredlawyer]

Originally Posted by hammertime

The ride isn't over yet! Itoh, Taira, the other Murakami, Miyagi, and both Takahashis may still make their way stateside in the next few years. I don't know if Livan Moinelo will ever defect but I'd love to see him in the MLB as well.

It's not over yet, but I think Yamashita is the only guy left who could be a GUY. I don't think Moinelo defects, but he would be a usable MLB starter for sure.

[Asian62150]

#13

Still only HRs and singles!

[mikejones]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

#13

Still only HRs and singles!

Skip to 8:00 mark

[BlowoutBuzz]

Rookie Cards are on the way ...

[redauto5]

Originally Posted by Boredlawyer

It's not over yet, but I think Yamashita is the only guy left who could be a GUY. I don't think Moinelo defects, but he would be a usable MLB starter for sure.

Let's not.forget Teruaki Sato! Dude has some serious power.

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[hammertime]

Mannami could be a star too.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by BlowoutBuzz

Rookie Cards are in the way ...

Why is the RC logo all read? Looks like a cheap imitation Donruss stunt.

[turkpbr18]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Why is the RC logo all read? Looks like a cheap imitation Donruss stunt.

Red Rookie Redemption program. If I recall correctly, if the player wins ROY, you can exchange for FanCash.

[livfreely]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Why is the RC logo all read? Looks like a cheap imitation Donruss stunt.

Gold refractor will look nice


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[pykie]

Originally Posted by hammertime

Welp I've officially sold my entire stash of Murakami slabs. Over 75 since the beginning of the year. I still have over 100 raw cards left but they're moving fast too. This kid is on fire!

I hope you kept/keep a few.

His market is continuing to move.

I remember selling plenty of Ohtani early days as well.

He’s not Ohtani for sure, but as much as you should sell now, the theory of also hedging on him with a % also holds true.

Ohtani’s market in the last 12-18 months has given everyone a clear picture of what they should be buying and keeping at the moment.

[pykie]

Originally Posted by Boredlawyer

It's not over yet, but I think Yamashita is the only guy left who could be a GUY. I don't think Moinelo defects, but he would be a usable MLB starter for sure.

Japan is only getting better.

Didn’t the Yankees want the most recent top NPB pick straight out of high school only a few months ago?

Think Sasaki and Ohtani are the only two with a faster recorded fast ball at 17/18 years of age.

[Boredlawyer]

Originally Posted by pykie

Japan is only getting better.

Didn’t the Yankees want the most recent top NPB pick straight out of high school only a few months ago?

Think Sasaki and Ohtani are the only two with a faster recorded fast ball at 17/18 years of age.

There's currently not a top-end guy in the league who projects as a perennial MLB all-star. Murakami was probably the last one. There's simply no one with the high-end athleticism/velocity/exit velocity of a future MLB superstar in Japanese pro ball right now.

Shota Morishita is probably the best hitter left over there, he slashed .275-.350-.463 last season. He's 25. He might come over to the MLB but he's not going to project as an impact all-star. Teruaki Sato is 27 and in a similar spot. They don't have the bat-to-ball track record to suggest they're going to be great MLB players.

Yamashita is probably the closest thing to projectable Top 100 prospect. He also had his best season in 2023 and has battled numerous injuries. He hasn't pitched yet this season.

Names like Chusei Mannami that feature intriguing individual tools, but none of them have put it together in a way that would suggest they're MLB talents.

There are a few pitchers that would be capable 8th and 9th inning guys, but a lot of these starters putting up big numbers are guys like Hiroya Miyagi, who's 5'7. Their approach is built on utilizing NPB deadball. Probably projects more as a bullpen depth piece or 5th starter at best. Their skillset simply doesn't translate well to US pro ball. Takahashi is probably the best bet to find an MLB rotation. He's still only 23 and his stuff wouldn't be out of place in the bigs. I would guess that he'd slot into the Top 150-200 prospects if he came over to the US today.

The most sought after pick in the 2024 draft was Rui Muneyama, and he's an undersized middle infielder who slugged .340 last season. There's always going to be usable depth pieces for the MLB, but the NPB pipeline has been drained for at least the near future.

[pykie]

Originally Posted by Boredlawyer

There's currently not a top-end guy in the league who projects as a perennial MLB all-star. Murakami was probably the last one. There's simply no one with the high-end athleticism/velocity/exit velocity of a future MLB superstar in Japanese pro ball right now.

Shota Morishita is probably the best hitter left over there, he slashed .275-.350-.463 last season. He's 25. He might come over to the MLB but he's not going to project as an impact all-star. Teruaki Sato is 27 and in a similar spot. They don't have the bat-to-ball track record to suggest they're going to be great MLB players.

Yamashita is probably the closest thing to projectable Top 100 prospect. He also had his best season in 2023 and has battled numerous injuries. He hasn't pitched yet this season.

Names like Chusei Mannami that feature intriguing individual tools, but none of them have put it together in a way that would suggest they're MLB talents.

There are a few pitchers that would be capable 8th and 9th inning guys, but a lot of these starters putting up big numbers are guys like Hiroya Miyagi, who's 5'7. Their approach is built on utilizing NPB deadball. Probably projects more as a bullpen depth piece or 5th starter at best. Their skillset simply doesn't translate well to US pro ball. Takahashi is probably the best bet to find an MLB rotation. He's still only 23 and his stuff wouldn't be out of place in the bigs. I would guess that he'd slot into the Top 150-200 prospects if he came over to the US today.

The most sought after pick in the 2024 draft was Rui Muneyama, and he's an undersized middle infielder who slugged .340 last season. There's always going to be usable depth pieces for the MLB, but the NPB pipeline has been drained for at least the near future.

Respectfully disagree.

Omura only stated a few weeks that after his first workout seeing Ishigaki, he was an “absolute monster” and said straight up he’s on the same level of talent as Sasaki was.

[NYRE2PECT]

Mune Shot #14


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[BoSoxFan1999]

After watching his swing enough, it reminds me of Trout's. Short and compact, but packs a punch!