GLENDALE, Ariz. — Perhaps no one with a White Sox connection knows slugger Munetaka Murakami better than Shingo Takatsu.

Takatsu, a sidearm closer who earned 27 saves with the Sox in 2004-05, was Murakami’s manager in Japan for the last six seasons and was one of more than a dozen Japanese media members to watch his workout Sunday.

‘‘I’ve only seen him one day,’’ said Takatsu, who now works for Fuji TV. ‘‘But he has the ability to adapt and blend in very well. He’s very friendly, so I’m sure he’ll make it [in the majors].’’

Takatsu saw Murakami at his zenith in Japan, when he hit 56 home runs, drove in 134 runs and posted a 1.168 OPS in 141 games in 2022.

‘‘It’s hard to say that he’ll do the same here,’’ Takatsu said through a translator. ‘‘But he’s a home-run hitter. He did very well in Japan, so I think he’ll do well here.’’

Takatsu acknowledged it might take awhile for Murakami to adjust to workouts and daily life in the United States, but he knows the Sox have a reputation for taking care of Japanese players such as himself and second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, a member of their 2005 World Series championship team.

Takatsu and former infielder Kaz Matsui, who played seven seasons with the Mets, Rockies and Astros, were among the former major-leaguers from Japan who watched Murakami.

‘‘We are getting an understanding of how big of a deal ‘Mune’ is,’’ Sox manager Will Venable said. ‘‘Certainly, the attention he gets is well-deserved for what he’s accomplished.’’

Venable said he wasn’t sure whether Murakami would start at first base in the Sox’ exhibition opener Friday against the Cubs, but he intends to give him and a few others players game opportunities before they depart for the World Baseball Classic.

Will power

Venable addressed expectations in a team meeting before the Sox’ first full-squad workout.

‘‘We told these guys there is no limit to what we believe they can do,’’ Venable said. ‘‘It’s about them and our support of helping them realize the belief we have in this club.’’

Workouts have been staggered into four groups, which will start their work 20 minutes apart, before the team reunites for fundamental drills.

‘‘There will be lots of time for these guys to be on the field together, and some of the veteran guys and younger guys will be able to pick each other’s brains,’’ Venable said.

Crash course in center

Luisangel Acuna has played all but three of his 580 major-league innings in the infield, but he is eager to show his talents in center field.

‘‘To be honest with you, I feel more comfortable playing in center field,’’ said Acuna, who was acquired from the Mets last month in the trade for center fielder Luis Robert Jr.

Acuna said he noticed a difference during his brief time in center for the Rangers’ Double-A Frisco affiliate. He also played 17 games in center in the Venezuelan Winter League before his trade to the Sox.

‘‘I’m going to play whatever they ask me to play, and I’ll be ready for that,’’ he said.

Infielder Lenyn Sosa (birth of child) and Acuna (visa paperwork) didn’t take part in the entire workout because they didn’t arrive until Sunday.

‘‘We want to make sure we are getting them off on the right foot and be mindful of what they have been through these last couple of days with their travel,’’ Venable said.