Andre the Giant, the legendary wrestler and actor known for his formidable ring presence and gentle screen roles, has been honored with a roadside marker in his beloved adopted small town in North Carolina.
Officials unveiled the marker on Thursday in Ellerbe, a community of about 1,000 people where the wrestler, born Andre Rene Roussimoff, lived on a ranch just outside town.
This photo provided by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources shows a newly-erected historical marker celebrating Andre the Giant along a highway near Ellerbe, N.C., on Thursday, April 23, 2026 (Leslie Leonard/North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources via AP)
Roussimoff was billed at 7ft 4in (2.24 metres) and 520 pounds (236 kilograms) during his time wrestling for the WWE in the 1970s and 1980s. A larger-than-life villain, he was touted as unbeatable until he faced Hulk Hogan in a match in 1987 at WrestleMania III, an event that launched the once regional wrestling company into a nationwide entertainment force.
Later that year, Mr Roussimoff appeared on film as the giant Fezzik in The Princess Bride. Fezzik was the gentle-hearted muscle for the antagonist and needed rhymes to remember his instructions.
Born in France, Roussimoff fell in love with the American South as he wrestled across the region, buying his North Carolina ranch and raising cattle on his land about 60 miles (97 kilometres) east of Charlotte.
He became a critical part of the Ellerbe community. In 1990, he taped TV and radio spots against a possible low-level radioactive landfill nearby. A pair of his size-26 cowboy boots are kept at a museum.
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Donald Trump holds the World Wrestling Federation Championship belt flanked by Hulk Hogan, left, and Andre the Giant at a news conference, March 15, 1988 (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Roussimoff died in 1993 at age 46 in France, where he was visiting for his father’s funeral. They had a service for him there, but his body was cremated and his ashes spread at his beloved ranch.
Wrestler Vladimir Koloff, who befriended Roussimoff as he helped him get into the business, said his friend deserved the marker because he turned wrestling from a regional pastime into a huge international business. “The world of professional wrestling has given us a larger than life icon,” Koloff said just before helping take the cover off the marker.
The Richmond County marker at NC Highway 73 and Old NC Highway 220 simply says: “Andre The Giant. 1946-1993. Actor and professional wrestler. Was born Andre Roussimoff. Known for role in The Princess Bride in 1987. Lived nearby.”
The second round of the 2026 Chevron Championship begins Friday morning at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Friday, including full Chevron Championship TV coverage, streaming info and Round 2 tee times.
How to watch Chevron on Friday
Look out, Nelly Korda is starting major season on fire. The 2024 Chevron champion rocketed out of the gates on Thursday at Memorial Park, shooting a bogey-free seven-under 65. That gave the World No. 2 a two-shot lead to start her quest for her third major victory.
Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee will head into the second round T2 at five under.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul did not fare as well on Day 1. Thitikul, who has never won a major, made five bogeys on her way to a two-over 74 on Thursday. She’ll start Friday’s second round T80 and in need of a low round to make the cut and play the weekend.
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Defending champion Mao Saigo topped Thitikul by one shot. She’ll start Round 2 eight shots behind Korda.
You can watch the second round of the Chevron Championship on TV via Golf Channel, which will provide coverage beginning on Friday at 11 a.m. ET. A live simulcast of Golf Channel’s Friday coverage will be available on Peacock.
Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the second round of the 2026 Chevron Championship.
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Golf Channel will carry second-round TV coverage of the 2026 Chevron Championship on Friday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. ET.
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How to stream online Friday
You can stream the second round of the 2026 Chevron Championship via Peacock, which will provide a live simulcast of Golf Channel’s coverage for viewers beginning Friday at 11 a.m. ET.
The second round of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans begins Friday morning at TPC Louisiana. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Friday, including full Zurich Classic TV coverage, streaming details and Round 2 tee times.
How to watch Zurich Classic on Friday
Matt Fitzpatrick and his brother Alex are teaming up at this week’s Zurich Classic for the second year in a row. The good news after Thursday’s opening round is that it doesn’t look like the Fitzpatricks will miss the cut as they did last year. The bad news is they have a lot of work to do in Friday’s second round to get into contention.
The Fitzpatricks combined for an eight-under 64 in the four-ball format in Round 1. That puts them six shots behind early leaders Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer.
For the second round, all players will compete in the foursomes format (alternate shot), which could cause a lot of movement on the leaderboard.
You can watch the second round of the Zurich Classic on TV via Golf Channel starting on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive streaming coverage beginning at 8:45 a.m. ET on Friday, as well as featured group and featured hole coverage all day long.
Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the second round of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
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How to watch on TV Friday
Golf Channel will air second-round TV coverage of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans from 3-6 p.m. ET on Friday.
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How to stream online Friday
You can stream the second round of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, which will offer streaming coverage starting at 8:45 a.m. ET on Friday in addition to featured group and hole coverage.
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In the gear world, we talk a lot about “disruption.” Usually, that’s just marketing-speak for a new paint job or a slightly thinner face. But every once in a while, something comes around that sounds crazy on its face but ends up really surprising you when you actually test the product. I can think of two off the top of my head, PXG and LAB Golf. I heard the story, had my early opinions, proceeded to test said product and was thoroughly impressed. Now both companies have seen success, grown, evolved and are as much a part of the industry as anything else.
Enter The Underground
If you haven’t heard the whispers yet, don’t feel bad. That’s by design. While the rest of the industry is shouting from the rooftops of retail stores, The Underground is operating in the shadows — and that’s exactly why the gear junkies, devout club players and, yes, Tour pros are starting to get excited.
I caught up with the minds behind the movement: Hollywood icon and certified stick Mark Wahlberg, industry veteran Garry Singer and retail titan Doug Meijer. They aren’t just trying to sell you a golf ball; they’re trying to change the way you think about what’s in your bag…and how you get it.
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The ethos of the “un-retail” ball
For Mark Wahlberg, it wasn’t about anything grandiose — it was about the making zero compromises. Mark lives the game, and for him, The Underground isn’t for everyone, and that’s the point.
“It’s a unique and exclusive club for golfers who want the best, like being different, and are committed to using the best products they can get.” It’s funny when I think of anything Mark Wahlberg participates in it harkens back to a brilliant quote he delivered in the movie Deep Water Horizon (“Hope, is not a strategy”) that actually applies here. It’s the idea that best intentions and a good idea won’t get you all the way home. You not only need to have the conviction and belief in the idea, but, ultimately, you gotta have a product that ain’t afraid of a fight. No one involved here needs this to work; they believe in it and know it works. And it’s not just these boys: a collection of athletes, entertainers, etc., are getting into this as well. Some may roll their eyes at the idea of all that but, again, Wahlberg, Meijer and Singer aren’t speaking to the masses here. Just that golfer that loves this kinda stuff. They exist, trust me, I know a bunch of them.
That “different” factor is huge. In a world where every foursome is playing the same three balls, there’s a psychological edge to teeing up something that the guy in the cart next to you literally cannot buy.
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Tour Validation: Sergio and Stenson It’s one thing for a celebrity to back a ball; it’s another for a major champion to put his career on the line with it. The Underground has already achieved what most startup brands never do: actual, week-in, week-out Tour validation.
Both Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson have moved away from the lifelong mainstream equipment contracts to create opportunities like this. Neither one is paid but they’ve invested in the platform, and it gives both the ability to make prompt tweaks on the fly which ain’t that easy in the mainstream.
For the record they both play the “club” ball currently… yes, the one the rest of the members play. BUT if they wanted something else, its’ a way easier activation due to the size of the company. Think of these pivots as turning a speed boat around vs. an aircraft carrier. Make sense?
For Sergio — one of the greatest drivers and ball-strikers of his generation — the switch wasn’t about a check. It was about finding a ball that reacted precisely how he wanted it to through the wind.
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Garry Singer, who has spent decades obsessed with ball chemistry (he started CLEAR Golf a few years back), sees this as the ultimate competitive advantage. For him, the goal isn’t “sales volume” — it’s “performance volume and pivoting at will.”
“It’s an exclusive club for golfers who know, appreciate,and strive to use a product that performs at a Tour-player level,” Singer explained.
The society of the fairway Doug Meijer looks at the landscape and sees a lot of golfers following the leader. He sees The Underground as a refuge for the person who values precision over popularity.
“I would define The Underground as a society of golfers who do not follow the crowd,” Meijer says. “People like to feel special in just about all their endeavors; The Underground gives them a chance to do that in golf. They can play an ultra-high precision product that is quite unique.”
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But let’s talk about the gatekeeping — because there is some. You don’t just walk into a big-box store and grab a dozen. Membership is by invitation only. If you’re lucky enough to get the call, the buy-in is $2,800. That covers your first 12 dozen balls and a haul of exclusive merch that makes it clear you’re part of the inner circle. It’s a steep price tag, but it’s a filter. It’s for the player who spends $400 on a round (or is a member at a private club) and doesn’t want their gear to be the weak link. There’s something about having that thing that not everyone can get, I always found it interesting with “Tour Issue” gear. Whether it was right for everyone didn’t really matter, it was the “hard to get” thing that made it fun.
The hidden advantage: No red tape As a gear guy, this is the part that gets me fired up. Usually, when a designer says, “I want to try this material,” the accountants say, “That’ll add $4 to the cost of the box, we can’t do it.”
At The Underground, the accountants don’t have a seat at the table.
“With regard to our advantage on the ball development and production side: We have no cost restrictions, no investor pressure and an incredibly deep team that possesses many, many years of experience,” Meijer added. “We have one simple goal: to create the best golf ball we can.”
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Think about that for a second. Imagine a R&D team with infinite runway and zero pressure to “ship by spring.” That’s a fun way to get breakthroughs. That’s how you get a ball that feels softer, with speed and that stays in the air longer.
My testing:
It’s a really good ball. Period. End of story. Is it for me? No. It doesn’t spin enough, but it’s really fast, feels amazing off the face, launches high and gives the player all the green side control you would want.
Here was a snap shot of the 7-iron shots I hit on Trackman.
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30 Shot Average using a Cobra 3DP Tour iron, 32 loft, Nippon 120X shaft:
Chrome Tour X Ball Speed 122.8 (Max speed 125.2) Spin: 6497 RPM Peak Height: 109 Feet Decent: 48.2
If I were to compare it to other balls, I’d say Callaway Triple Diamond or Titleist Left Dash would be just that. Is this one better than those? That’s up to the player honestly, but what I will call out is the feel of this ball. It has that HEAVY hit feeling off the face that I find quite attractive. I’d really love to see what a spinner ball from the Underground looks like. That would really pique my interest.
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The verdict: Is it for you? Look, most golfers are fine with what’s on the shelf at the local big-box store. And that’s okay. But there’s a subset of golfers — the ones with the means to participate and aren’t necessarily concerned what the rest of the world is doing. They want something unique, exclusive, something that piques curiosity. That’s what this Underground platform really nails on in my opinion.
I honestly think this idea has some legs, but will it take over the world? No. And that’s not what they are trying to do. This is for the that player that wants “the best”, loves the word exclusive and has the dough to make it a reality. I love that actually. This player does exist, there’s a bunch of them and The Underground is speaking to them.
Deontay Wilder is likely to land another big fight before the end of the year after success against Derek Chisora, and now one of his most fierce rivals has called for a ‘personal’ grudge match.
Wilder has strung together two consecutive wins for the first time since 2019, first defeating Tyrrell Herndon in a low-profile return last June, before a split-decision triumph over Derek Chisora earlier this month.
However, speaking to Fight Hub TV, fellow American Jarrell Miller played down the recent resurgence of Wilder, unimpressed by his win over ‘Del Boy’.
“F**k no, [I wasn’t impressed by his performance against Chisora]. He looked like supers**t. I don’t think that Chisora was 100% in that fight because, compared to the last three fights that Chisora had, his conditioning was a lot better, he looked a lot stronger [in those fights].
“He looked a little flat in this one and Deontay looked like supers**t.
Miller then went on to admit that he would love the opportunity to face his 40-year-old countryman, declaring that their rivalry has become personal because of a situation involving Wilder’s ex-fiancée.
“I would love to fight Deontay, but Deontay has said multiple times ‘I am never going to fight Miller’ and then later on, after I talk more s**t, ‘I am never going to fight Miller because he is so disrespectful’. I’m like, ‘you is a punk b***h, we are fighters bro!’
“It’s a little personal, because he made it personal. I never made it personal, I’ve always had respect for him as a big brother because we were in camp a few times, but then he took the word of his ex over some stuff that I told him and he took it the wrong way. Then, he came to find out that I was right.
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“He took it personal… Like I say, bro’s before h**s, he didn’t listen to that motto – now he feeling the wrath of that s**t.”
The 67-year-old has shared details of his recovery, stating he is now “in a really good place.”
Hughton, who played for Tottenham, West Ham, Brentford, and the Republic of Ireland, and managed Birmingham, Norwich, Nottingham Forest, and Ghana, opted for prostate removal after medical advice.
He told the Daily Mail: “I had very good advice and all the treatment options were given to me, and I decided to have my prostate removed.
“The recovery has gone really well. I’m one year post-operation and I feel good. It’s all gone very well. I’ve got a lot of energy.”
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Hughton managed Newcastle and Brighton in the Premier League (Getty)
“Keeping active and busy is part of how I am anyway, but it’s also about rehabilitation and keeping your mind active as well.
“I’m very comfortable with my prognosis and my post-operation feelings. I’m in a really good place,” he said.
Hughton won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup with Spurs as a player before later moving on to the coaching staff at the club.
He spent 14 years at Tottenham as part of the backroom staff between 1993 and 2007 before opting to take the step into management.
Hughton won the Championship with Newcastle in the 2009-10 season as the Magpies secured an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation the previous year.
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Hughton was surprisingly sacked by Newcastle in December 2010, but went on to manage several clubs across England over the next decade, a run that included a five-year spell at Brighton from 2014 to 2019.
He was named Ghana manager in 2023 but was relieved of his duties in early 2024 after the national team failed to make it beyond the group stage in that year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Some players prefer to function as a silent assassin on the field. The Vikings didn’t draft somebody who could be included among them. Or, at least, that’s not what DT Caleb Banks said.
After getting scooped up at No. 18, Banks took some time to chat with the Minnesota media via Zoom. While doing so, I asked him to offer his own scouting report, a changeup from the draft process that involves so many people imposing their view onto his game. Part of what made his answer fascinating was his insistence on relishing the art of trash talk.
The Vikings Welcomed a Trash Talker
Certain things stand out about Caleb Banks. Some basics:
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He’s 23
He stands at 6’6″ and weighs 330 pounds
Kevin O’Connell praised the DT’s on-field “violence”
But then there’s something inside of him that’s not as easy to see. Of course, enough time watching him may lead to noticing the chatter taking place before and after the whistle, but he identified the trash talking as being something that flows outward from his approach to the game.
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A view of the line of scrimmage during the first half of a game between Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
He began his answer in a predictable, normal way. Essentially, some largely meaningless football language like working hard and being competitive. What made those details notable was his insistence on letting that competitiveness lead to chatter.
Kick it over to Banks, who quickly pivoted off his point about wanting to win his reps with a proclamation about trash talk: “Did I say competitive? That’s me, I’m going to talk smack all day long.”
Hard not to love that attitude, folks.
Any young lad has much to prove upon entering the NFL. Caleb Banks isn’t an exception. He’ll need to arrive ready to work, willing to continue shaving off the rough spots in his game as he looks to reach his high ceiling.
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To his credit, Banks did make note of some of those issues. He described “a little inconsistency on tape” while later clarifying a desire to see his “technique” get better as he grows more disciplined with his eyes.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks on against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.
Not that it was going to be an issue, but Caleb Banks has circled a few areas — consistency, hands, eyes — for DC Brian Flores and DL coach Ryan Nielsen to work on improving in the rookie. He is, like the rest of us, a work in progress.
Mr. Banks will be looking to prove the Vikings right for choosing him. He’ll do so with some belief in his own abilities, a confidence that spills out into a willingness to let his opponent get an earful as the game is unfolding.
Minnesota’s next pick arrives at No. 49, which arrives at roughly the middle of the 2nd. Later on Friday, the Vikings are set to use up a couple of 3rd-Round selections: No. 82 and No. 97.
Former New Zealand seamer Mitchell McClenaghan has stated that he wouldn’t leave Romario Shepherd out of the playing XI for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) clash against Gujarat Titans (GT). According to McClenaghan, Shepherd and Tim David form a terrific big-hitting duo, which gives RCB’s batting an edge in the death overs.
RCB went down to Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets in their previous match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Shepherd was dismissed for one off four balls, trapped lbw by Kuldeep Yadav. He has played a couple of cameos, but some experts reckon that Jacob Bethell could be a better choice.
During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo Timeout, though, McClenaghan backed Shepherd to retain his place in the RCB squad for the IPL 2026 clash against GT on Friday, April 24. He opined:
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“He gives Tim David surety, having someone come in after him who can clear the rope and hit sixes. Even when they are at the crease together, they are a formidable partnership. So, if you take him out of the squad, you start looking down the barrel of breaking up that chemistry, or that safety blanket that Tim David has when he’s coming in, knowing Romario is behind him, and Krunal Pandya.
“I think back to when MI was so successful at the backend, you had Kieron Pollard, you had Hardik Pandya and you had Krunal Pandya. When you’ve got a buffer of three guys there at the end who can all clear the rope, that’s so important. So, I wouldn’t leave him out,” McClenaghan went on to add.
In six innings in IPL 2026, David has scored 173 runs at a strike rate of 203.52, with a best of 70*, which came off just 25 balls against CSK in a home game.
“The last over is a bit of a lottery” – McClenaghan on Shepherd bowling last over for RCB against DC
Shepherd bowled the last over of the previous match against DC. The batting side needed 15 runs and got home with one ball to spare. McClenaghan, however, downplayed Shepherd‘s inability to bowl RCB to victory in the match. Terming the last over as a lottery, he said:
“In terms of the strategy of him bowling the last over in the previous game, there’s been a couple of other occasions which he’s done it. They’re trying to bowl their best bowler in the 19th to get that run rate up as much as possible. And any good bowler can get hit for 20 or they can defend 10. The last over is a bit of a lottery. You can get three nicks and lose the game.”
David Miller struck two sixes and a four off Shepherd’s bowling to take DC home to a famous win against RCB.
Apr 23, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) hits a three-run double during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Bo Bichette seems to like batting leadoff for the New York Mets.
Good thing, because the Mets are going to be without their usual leadoff hitter for a while.
Bichette and the Mets will look to continue building a winning streak Friday night when New York hosts the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game series.
Freddy Peralta (1-2, 4.05 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against the Rockies’ Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 7.48) in a battle of right-handers.
The Mets and Rockies were on the opposite ends of 10-8 scores as the host team in the rubber matches of three-game series Thursday. New York outlasted the Minnesota Twins, while Colorado fell to the San Diego Padres.
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Bichette went 3-for-5 on Thursday, when his three-run eighth-inning double snapped a 7-7 tie and helped the Mets avoid an ugly loss.
New York, which ended a 12-game losing streak on Wednesday, squandered a 7-2 lead on Thursday. The Mets then nearly frittered away the advantage again in the ninth, when Devin Williams gave up an RBI single to Tristan Gray before he ended the game by striking out Trevor Larnach with the potential tying run in scoring position.
The Mets won the same day Francisco Lindor, the team’s regular leadoff man, went on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left calf sustained Wednesday night.
“It’s hard to (establish) a timetable,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said regarding Lindor’s absence, “but we do know that he’s going to be down for a while.”
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Fortunately for the Mets, Bichette appears to be warming up after a slow start. The 28-year-old third baseman, who signed with New York in January, went 1-for-4 as the leadoff hitter on Wednesday, when Mendoza shuffled the lineup and batted Lindor fourth.
The three hits Thursday tied a season high for Bichette, who has collected a hit in seven of his past eight games to raise his average to .238 — only the third time this season that he ended a game batting higher than .230.
“I don’t know if it has anything to do with (being first in the lineup),” said Bichette, a career .282 hitter when batting leadoff. “I felt good today.”
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The Rockies appeared to be on the verge of a feel-good victory on Thursday and their second straight winning homestand to start the season when they carried an 8-5 lead into the ninth inning. However, closer Victor Vodnik, who got the final out of the eighth, gave up five runs in the ninth, including Gavin Sheets’ go-ahead three-run homer.
Colorado finished 3-4 on a homestand that included a split of a four-game series with the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Rockies, who went 4-2 on their first homestand of the season against the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros, had a 25-56 home mark last year, when they finished a franchise-worst 43-119.
The Rockies are 10-16 this season, which puts them ahead of only the Mets (9-16) and the Philadelphia Phillies (8-17) in the National League but well ahead of the pace they set last year, when Colorado didn’t record its 10th win until June 2.
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“It’s been a year so far with a lot of highs and some lows,” said Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak, who went 4-for-5 with two homers on Thursday. “Now it’s just going to be about finding that consistent high and figuring out ways to win baseball games.”
Peralta took the defeat in his most recent start, when he gave up three runs over 5 2/3 innings as the Mets fell 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. He is 4-2 with a 3.49 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) against the Rockies.
Lorenzen didn’t factor into the decision Sunday after allowing three runs over five innings in the Rockies’ 9-6 win over the Dodgers. He owns a 2-1 record and a 2.61 ERA with two saves in 16 games (four starts) vs. the Mets.
Murakami has already hit 10 home runs – one shy of the MLB lead – and tied a White Sox franchise record by homering in five consecutive games. He also has the most homers by a Japanese-born player in the first 25 games of a career, 42 games earlier than four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani in his 2018 rookie year.
If you care to dream, Murakami heads into the White Sox’s homestand beginning tonight at Rate Field against the Washington Nationals on pace to hit 65 homers with 123 RBIs and 136 walks this season.
“I’m really enjoying myself,” Murakami told USA TODAY Sports. “I’m getting more comfortable every day. I’m getting used to the different rules and different playing styles in the major league. Everything has been great.”
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Munetaka Murakami joined the White Sox before the 2026 season.
The White Sox, stunned themselves when Murakami fell into their laps this winter with a modest two-year, $34 million contract coming from Japan, couldn’t be more thrilled.
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He has been everything the White Sox could have imagined, and much, much more. Everyone knew his power, breaking the single-season home-run record in Japan with 56 homers. You don’t win two MVPs without talent. But he’s making much more contact than talent evaluators predicted, hitting .253 with a .394 on-base percentage and .992 slugging percentage. He looks much better defensively at first base than the scouting reports indicated. He’s even got speed, beating out two infield singles this week on ground balls in Arizona.
And he has a whole lot of teams kicking themselves why they severely underestimated Murakami’s skills and didn’t make an offer.
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You don’t think a team like, oh, say the New York Mets, could use him right about now?
“Obviously, there weren’t teams that raised their hands when I came over,’’ Murakami said, “but I’m really glad and happy that the White Sox picked me up. …. I love the team very much. All my teammates are very open to communication. They are really just good teammates overall. Staff, coaches, I love them very much.”
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The feeling, needless to say, is quite mutual.
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“I’m running out of things to say,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “When he hits it, he hits it really hard. Even the singles he’s hitting, he’s hitting hard. And obviously the damage is incredible, too.
“It’s impressive to watch.”
Certainly, he has played a major factor in their surge. The White Sox have 32 homers this year, ranking third in the American League and sixth in MLB. A year ago, they were next-to-last, with only the Kansas City Royals hitting fewer.
“He’s a game-changer,” White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi said. “He’s impacted this whole lineup. I love hitting in front of him. I see more balls in the zone, and especially heaters.
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“I just hope the wind starts changing in Chicago so you’ll see him hit more balls. I mean, he’s got unbelievable power.”
Murakami hit 2,156 feet worth of homers in his five-game barrage, including a 451-foot blast Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He already has three homers that have traveled at least 113 mph off his bat, leading MLB.
Really, the person probably least impressed is Murakami himself. He expects this. And a whole lot more as the season progresses.
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“My swing is pretty good overall,’’ Murakami says. “It’s still early in the season, so I still have to keep adjusting to the pitchers, but right now I’m swinging really well. If the stats do come up as all good, that will be wonderful.”
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The White Sox’s young players have been mesmerized by Murakami since his arrival. They marvel at his meticulous preparation. The way he takes batting practice. The way he grinds tape. There’s a genuine purpose to everything he does from the moment he enters the clubhouse.
“Just watching him go about his day-to-day business and the detail that he puts in and the amount of time he puts in,” said White Sox catcher Kyle Teel says, “it’s just awesome to see. He’s very detail oriented. The details he puts in is just fantastic.
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“So, when the game starts, the success doesn’t surprise me because he just works so hard. He competes the way way every single at-bat, no matter what the score of situation. He never gets down on himself. I just love that.”
And, oh, yes, there’s that work ethic.
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“When we’re on the road, it’s mostly the rehab guys that get on that early staff bus to get here early, and he’s on it,” said Teel, recovering from a strained hamstring during the WBC. “I’m not going to lie, I didn’t even know players were allowed to take the staff bus until I got hurt.”
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Said Benintendi: “He’s got a routine, and he sticks to it every day. We were joking already that he’s a lot more disciplined than a lot of us in here. He gets his work in, and he’s a process-oriented guy for sure.”
The White Sox also are learning that despite the language barrier, the dude can be a comedian. He’ll crack jokes. He’ll go along with pranks. And he’ll even sing, picking up the tunes and learning the words from the “Party Apple Peel,” an alternative rock cover band in Chicago.
The White Sox players still are laughing about the time he took the mic on the team bus and belted out a few tunes, much to their pleasure as part of his rookie initiation.
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“He’s got a great sense of humor,” White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery said. “Actually, he’s hilarious. You pull back the layers after first meeting someone, and you find out he’s one the boys.”
“Every day, you find out something new talking to him, but the biggest surprise is that sense of humor. I can’t wait until he starts picking up more English, then I think you’ll really see that personality come out.”
Murakami has been a smash hit with the media, too. He’s available to talk virtually every day, and has spoken to reporters upon request after he has homered. It’s a little different on the South Side, with only a handful of Japanese reporters covering him on a daily basis, than ten times that number covering the Dodgers with Shohei Ohtani and company. But this small media gathering suits him just fine.
“I don’t really know what the Dodgers are like,’’ Murakami says, “but I like the media over here. I’m all good. It doesn’t really affect me at all or change who I am.’’
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It also works out quite nicely that on the North Side of town the Cubs have Japanese stars Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga to provide plenty of tips for dining, shopping or just hanging out. And if he needs any hitting advice, hey, he’s got Ohtani’s digits on his cell phone too.
“A lot of different Japanese baseball players across the country have reached out and helped me,” Murakami said. “They’ve all given me good advice.”
Now, the scene is set for Murakami to perhaps even become the first White Sox player to win the American League home-run title in more than a half-century. The White Sox, even having sluggers like Frank Thomas, Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Ken Griffey Jr, Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn over the years, have not had a home-run champion since Hall of Famer Dick Allen hit 32 homers in 1974.
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“I definitely think it’s becoming much-see TV,” said White Sox analyst Steve Stone, the former Cy Young winner, “because even though we’re not winning the World Series this year, we are entertaining. I remember [former White Sox owner] Bill Veeck said to me, “If you’re playing on short money, always error on the side of offense, because offense is exciting.’’’
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So, if Murakami keeps hitting homers, does he create enough of a frenzy to become a bigger gate attraction than a Pope Leo hat giveaway?
“There’s no doubt about it that fans will show up if that’s the case,’’ Stone said. “We’ll see what happens. I know fans love the long ball.
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