Rookie Murata Hot

I said before the season started that I'd like to see Yokohama's 1st round draft choice Shuichi Murata get a chance at second base, but veteran Taneda got the starting job. (And Taneda did a much better job at defense than I remember him doing last year.)

Nonetheless, Murata came in and hit a pinch hit home run in one of several losing causes last week. I commented to my wife that that home run will earn him a spot on the starting roster the next day. And sure enough, Yamashita-kantoku thought he deserved a start, too. And Murata answered with a homer the next day as well.

Going into tonight (April 11), Murata is batting .259 with 3 home runs and 4 RBIs. In his first two at bats this evening against Yakult (at Yokohama), he has two solo home runs (and was walked his third at bat). The 23 year old rookie's weak spot seems to be strike outs, as he's K'ed 12 times in his first 27 at bats. If he can get more wood on the ball as the season progresses, Murata's got a good shot at Rookie of the Year.

OK. Too early to say anything about RoY. And Murata is going to need something more than just a mountain of solo home runs. Still, I like the excitement of seeing a new player come up and make a big impact, and Murata is one I picked to do so before the season started. (My first pre-season rookie that looks like he'll pan out. I've made a lot of bad predictions before.)