Munetaka Murakami is set to return to the Chicago White Sox lineup on Friday night, ending a stint on the injured list due to a strained right hamstring. Murakami, who has been out since May 29, made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Charlotte, going 2-for-7 with a double. His return comes as the White Sox have struggled, losing three straight and six of their last eight games.

At the time of his injury, the Japanese rookie was a significant offensive force, ranking among league leaders with 20 home runs, 41 RBIs, 43 runs scored, and a .947 OPS. His absence coincided with the White Sox posting a 17-18 record. Manager Will Venable confirmed Murakami's readiness, noting he underwent a challenging workload during his rehab assignments and has recovered well.

The White Sox (47-45) are currently in a tight race with Cleveland for the AL Central lead. Outfielder Andrew Benintendi expressed optimism about Murakami's return, stating his presence will inject energy and spark the team's flagging morale. Murakami signed a $34 million, two-year contract with Chicago in December.