Japanese baseball sensation Munetaka Murakami is generating serious buzz now that he’s available via MLB free agency. He’s also a hot topic among card collectors.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Susan Lulgjuraj, the 25-year-old slugger has until December 22 to sign with a big-league club for 2026 and beyond. But the exciting part is that collectors don’t need to wait for his arrival to start chasing Munetaka Murakami baseball cards.
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Finding Munetaka Murakami Baseball Cards in Today’s Market
via PSACard.com
Lulgjuraj noted that Murakami’s cardboard journey began in 2018 with BBM, Japan’s premier card manufacturer. However, the real explosion happened in 2021 when Topps landed licensing rights for NPB players. With that in mind, thousands of Murakami cards are already occupying the secondary market across multiple Topps brands, including Chrome, Bowman, Bowman Chrome, T206, and Stadium Club.
His World Baseball Classic appearances added another dimension, too. WBC cards are a fascinating middle ground for collectors. And unlike some international prospects, whose early cards can be tough to get our hands on, Murakami’s available cards provide an entry point at just about every budget level.
Current Values and the Cards Driving Market Heat
via @fivecardguys/IG
Unsurprisingly, the market is already responding to Murakami’s expected MLB landfall.
According to Lulgjuraj, a 2024 Epoch Premier Star Auto was recently listed on eBay for $4,999 despite selling for $3,000 just a few weeks earlier.
His autograph availability is still limited right now, which is pushing premium values toward low-numbered parallels and rare inserts. A 1-of-1 2023 Bowman Chrome World Baseball Classic Flag Superfractor brought $4,300 in May. And then there’s a 2021 Topps NBP Red Foil (with only five copies available) that fetched nearly $1,900 as recently as November 7.
Once we know where he’ll be playing next season, you’d have to imagine there will be plenty of eyes on what his cards look like throughout various releases. Next winter should also bring the holy grail for serious Murakami collectors: his official MLB debut patch card.
Learning From Recent Japanese Star Transitions
We’ve seen this movie before with recent Japanese imports. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s transition to the Los Angeles Dodgers provides the most recent comparison. His rookie cards skyrocketed upon signing his massive $325 million contract, with his 2024 Topps Chrome autos regularly clearing four figures for premium parallels.
The pattern seems consistent: early Japanese-issue cards appreciate modestly during NPB careers, then spike when MLB contracts get signed.
Murakami’s current pricing suggests the market’s already pricing in his next move, but there’s typically another substantial jump once American collectors flood the market.
Career Trajectory and Landing Spot Speculation
Murakami is entering free agency with impeccable timing. At just 25 years old, he’s hitting the market in his prime with a statistical resume that screams he’s ready to make a jump to the big leagues. His ability to play both first and third base will make him attractive to plenty of organizations in need of power at the corners.
The slugger appeared in just 69 games during the 2025 season, but still posted a 1.051 OPS with 24 home runs and 52 RBI through 263 plate appearances. He’s also produced six seasons of at least 28 homers. Five of those surpassed the 30-homer mark, with 2022 being the highlight. Murakami slugged 56 homers with 134 RBI and a 1.168 OPS in 612 trips to the plate during that campaign.
MLB Trade Rumors has Murakami ranked as the fourth-best free agent this winter. Their collective prediction is that he’ll land a contract in the neighborhood of eight years for $180 million. Of the four writers polled, two think he’ll land with the New York Mets, while one thinks he’ll sign with the Boston Red Sox, and another thinks it’ll be the Dodgers.
For collectors interested in chasing Murakami cards, the biggest question will be which team he lands with before his December 22 posting deadline. With that kind of contract prediction, he’ll probably be seriously courted by big-market teams. Combine his NPB domination, elite power, lucrative contract, and a big media market with his global appeal, and it should be fun to watch the market evolve.
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