{
  "id": 11091827,
  "title": "Munetaka Murakami’s ‘drunk’ interview goes viral after White Sox win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/munetaka-murakamis-drunk-interview-goes-viral-after-white-sox-win",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-01T02:47:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/munetaka-murakami-drunk-interview-goes-024729581.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami sparked a viral moment after a boisterous interview in which he declared, \"I'm drunk.\" The Japanese rookie took to the clubhouse airwaves following the team's triumph over the Houston Astros in the first game of their American League wild-card series on September 30. Murakami, who speaks limited English, admitted that he had been drinking before the interview. \"I’m drunk. I’m drunk. Yesterday, maybe hung over,\" he said. \"No, not yesterday, tomorrow. Sorry, I don’t speak English.\"\n\nThis is not the first time Murakami has gone viral after an interview in his second language. The 26-year-old had previously drawn attention during the White Sox's push for a postseason berth on September 24. He was a standout in the clubhouse celebration, declaring in broken English, \"I am Japanese!\"\n\nMurakami's performance in his debut MLB season has been nothing short of extraordinary. He went 1 for 8 with a walk and an RBI in the two games against the Astros, and in the regular season, he hit 35 home runs, drove in 77 runs, and was in contention for the Rookie of the Year award. The White Sox had been perennial low-performers in recent years, but the addition of Murakami, along with other key acquisitions, propelled them to an 84-78 record, clinching an AL wild-card berth.\n\nThe young star's significant contribution to the team's success has not gone unnoticed by fans. As the White Sox assert their presence in the postseason, Murakami has become a key reason for their newfound optimism and fan enthusiasm.",
  "summary": "The 26-year-old slugger charmed cameras by mincing words in his second language",
  "key_points": [
    "White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami sparked viral moment with \"I'm drunk\" interview.",
    "Murakami, a Japanese rookie, had limited English and admitted to drinking before interview.",
    "Murakami's viral performance isn't first; he drew attention in September 24 clubhouse celebration."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Murakami's candid and humorous interviews humanize him, endearing him to fans and adding to his growing popularity as a charismatic contributor to the White Sox's resurgence.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}