Murakami and DeLauter Make History With Home Runs in First Three MLB Games

MLB · By Sarah Mitchell · March 30, 2026
Murakami and DeLauter Make History With Home Runs in First Three MLB Games

Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox and Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians have stormed into Major League Baseball’s record books by homering in each of their first three career games, a rare accomplishment that had been achieved only twice previously in league history.

According to ESPN MLB, both rookies launched home runs in their opening trio of contests this week, instantly establishing themselves as powerful new presences in their respective lineups. This exclusive milestone places Murakami and DeLauter alongside just two other players in MLB annals who have managed to homer in each of their first three games, underlining the level of difficulty and historic significance attached to their early-season feats.

  • Murakami and DeLauter homered in their first, second, and third career MLB games
  • Only two other players in MLB history have achieved this milestone
  • Both players accomplished the feat within the same week, making it an even rarer occurrence

The achievement is especially notable given the pressure rookies face upon their promotion to the majors. Homering in a debut game is rare enough, but sustaining that level of power for three consecutive games is almost unprecedented. The last time any player managed this was years prior, adding to the sense of occasion around this week’s events.

For Murakami, who arrived in Chicago with high expectations following a successful career in Japan, the immediate power display provides an early return on investment for the White Sox. DeLauter’s breakout for Cleveland gives the Guardians a jolt of youthful excitement and hope for the future, as both teams look to leverage their new stars’ momentum as the season unfolds.

While detailed statistics for each home run were not provided, the context of this achievement speaks volumes. With 30 MLB teams fielding hundreds of rookies over the decades, only four have ever started their careers with three straight games going deep. That puts Murakami and DeLauter in truly elite company and sets the stage for close attention to their performances as their rookie campaigns continue.

Sources

  1. [1]ESPN MLB