Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami entered the posting system Friday, beginning his transition to Major League Baseball, sources told ESPN. The 25-year-old third baseman's 45-day signing window opens at 8 a.m. ET Saturday and expires December 22 at 5 p.m.

Murakami holds Japan's single-season home run record with 56 in 2022, breaking Sadaharu Oh's 1964 mark of 55. He amassed 246 home runs across eight seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. His career slash line stands at .270/.394/.557 with a 16 percent walk rate.

MLB teams are expected to pursue Murakami aggressively despite strikeout concerns. High-ranking executives scouted multiple games this season and emerged impressed, sources said. The left-handed hitter is projected to command a nine-figure contract.

Murakami appeared in just 56 games this year due to an oblique injury. He still posted 22 home runs with a .273/.379/.663 slash line. The slugger also plays first base, adding positional versatility.

Teams signing Murakami must pay a posting fee to the Swallows. The fee structure includes 20 percent of the first $25 million, 17.5 percent of the next $25 million, and 15 percent above $50 million. Industry projections suggest at least a $16.9 million posting fee.

Murakami headlines a deep class of Asian players joining MLB this winter. Right-hander Tatsuya Imai, first baseman Kazuma Okamoto and right-hander Kona Takahashi are expected to enter through posting or international free agency.

Japanese players fueled the last two World Series championships. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto led the Los Angeles Dodgers to titles. Los Angeles guaranteed over $1 billion combined to acquire both stars.

Murakami's strikeout rate approaches 26 percent, particularly his in-zone swing-and-miss rate. However, his age and power potential remain attractive to MLB clubs seeking impact bats.