GLENDALE, Ariz. — “Worker” was the first word that came to the mind of Chicago White Sox hitting coach Derek Shomon when describing Munetaka Murakami.
“Does not shy away from the work,” Shomon said Thursday at Camelback Ranch. “Been very clear about wanting the information. Wants to utilize the resources that we have.
“I think more times than not it might be trying to pull him out of the cage and remind him to breathe, (rather) than having to push him in the cage to actually get work done. The guy works really hard. It’s been fun to see.”
Shomon offered several early-spring hitting evaluations Thursday, including how Murakami is getting acclimated after spending the last eight seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
“He came in with an ideal,” Shomon said. “This guy’s smart. The attitude is there. He has an understanding of likely what is going to be exposed and he’s doing a really good job attacking it on a daily basis and being really intentional with his work. That certainly makes it easier for us.
“There was alignment there as soon as he came into town. Yeah, it can be tough, you’ve kind of got to pick and choose, especially with a guy getting ready to leave for (the World Baseball Classic), how much do you want to give them? On top of the fact that this is all new for him. Testament to his work, his work ethic, and just how savvy he is. He has a clue and he really is getting ahead of it.”
While Murakami is preparing for his first major-league season, players such as shortstop Colson Montgomery, second baseman Chase Meidroth and catchers Edgar Quero — who had a two singles, one double and four RBIs in Saturday’s 11-2 win against the Athletics in a Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch — and Kyle Teel each got their first opportunities to consistently see big-league pitching in 2025.
Shomon’s message to that group is “continuing the good work that they did last year, especially in the second half.”
“But then staying ahead of what the game is going to throw them next. Literally, figuratively,” he said. “Your willingness to respond in a timely fashion to what the game is giving you. That very much is related to how you’re being attacked, and whether that’s pitch types, or certain zones, so on and so forth.
“Just the understanding that the game is going to give you the blueprint and your willingness to respond in a timely fashion is the ability to adjust and be able to perform.”
Photos: An inside look at Chicago White Sox spring training
Remaining in the infield, Shomon noted third baseman Miguel Vargas’ ability to make good decisions, make contact and his damage capability.
“Now it’s just piecing it together consistently,” Shomon said. “Just continuing to do the good work and we’ll let the game kind of tell us what we need to do next.”
Outfielder Everson Pereira, acquired as part of an offseason trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, has been dealing with tightness on his right side the last couple of days. He was off to a strong start to camp before the setback.
“When we had our meeting with him, it’s like, dude, you make good decisions, you do damage, you can move it forward,” Shomon said. “It’s the contact thing, right? It’s the bat to ball, it’s the in-zone whiff. It’s not that you don’t know how to make contact, you do, otherwise wouldn’t be here. It’s like what’s causing the contact issues? So, I think those things were identified early on with him and every day they’re attacked.”
And Shomon said fellow newcomer Luisangel Acuña, an infielder/outfielder acquired as part of the trade that sent center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets, “came in with the right idea, he knows what he needs to do in-game performance wise to improve and has made some noticeable adjustments during the routine that we’re hoping through increased amount of reps that will transition into game and help with some of the batted ball stuff that he’s addressed.”
Acuña had a double in Saturday’s game, which also featured a solo home run from right fielder Brooks Baldwin.
Shomon said veteran outfielders Austin Hays and Andrew Benintendi have been beneficial in a variety of ways.
“I call them my AARP boys,” Shomon said with a chuckle. “The value that I think it adds for a young core group of players, and hoping the younger guys lean on (Benintendi) and (Hays) and vice versa, hoping that (Hays) and (Benintendi) are willing to push the needle where they need to with these young guys, just having been through it and having been successful.”
Shomon is in his first season as the team’s hitting coach. Manager Will Venable sees the connections he’s making with the players.
“He’s got real substance to what he’s teaching these guys and what he’s putting them through,” Venable said Saturday. “You look at the combination of his ability to connect with the guys, the environment he creates plus the things he’s able to dial in and help these guys work through, is just a guy we’re really excited to have.”